Story: Predators (all chapters)

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 1

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Once upon a time, in the far distant future, things upon the earth began to change. The world now belongs to the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and the denizens of the sea. The human being has become extinct. And in a world destroyed by science, nature claimed its final prize.

After centuries of fighting, battles, and worldwide wars the society of humans crumbled to the ground. There are few relics left behind of their time on this world. A few buildings still stand and some scattered history remains. But it is their science that will live on forever.

With their own two hands, they recreated the very work of god. Dividing, multiplying and cloning the very essence of their life became a common occurrence in a day full of progress. They tried to push through the boundaries of mortality. And then, they marveled at their seemingly infinite knowledge and scientific prowess all achieved with the ease of impervious technology. And their world seemed to prosper, until the day they went to far...

Splicing the very core of their being, they gave birth to a new species. Their new creations were made in the their own image. But at their core, these creatures were wild animals. Their creations were sophisticated, intelligent, and highly adaptive. They were invincible soldiers with the vision of owls, the speed of the cheetah, and the strength of the shark. And instead of fear or even worry, the humans congratulated themselves on giving birth to the changeling.

But the humans never gave their own weakness much thought; foolishly convinced they would always retain complete dominion over their engineered children. They forgot about the natural instincts they had created by the splicing of their own blood. They forgot about the primitive nature residing in the very core of all their altered children. But most importantly, they forgot about the predators.

It came as a great shock to all of humanity when their own creation rose up against them. After a great sweeping global war, only the changelings remained. And the rule of the planet was once again returned to the animal kingdom.

On the long jungle continent, now known as Inception, the new way of life was born. Here lived the most precious relic of all civilization, the breed-able human female. Salvaged from the slaughter of destruction, they returned to the motherland to give birth to the new species. With the building blocks of life rushing through the very stream of their blood, the first natural offspring were born. Half of the children were changelings reflecting their animal-hybrid parentage. The others were more human, baring the physical traits of their mother's. But regardless of genetic make-up they all had one completely uniform trait, their gender. In a world of manipulated chromosomes, altered DNA and the all-out morphing of life, nature found one harmonious method to bridge a widening gap. Every child born was female, and the very act of conception became an art.

In the land of the animal kingdom a kindred spirit has been reborn. Enjoying centuries of peace and prosperity the Kingdom has spread across the globe creating an intricate civilization of advanced technology and potent magic. Here the world is divided into tribes of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and fowl. But despite the relative good-will running through the entire Kingdom, some neighboring villages can't seem to get past their innate tribal differences.

The Fasara are the all mighty jungle cat tribe that has been the unchallenged ruler of the entire continental Inception. But when the Midali take to the land, they become fast enemies. Now the rule of the Inception is challenged between two warring tribes each determined to best the other. And as many wars go, innocents are hurt far too often.

Far from a peaceful people, the jungle cats rule with an iron will. They've come to their power through years of bloodshed and cunning battle. And they aren't about to relinquish their hard-earned spoils of war. But over the years they've grown soft and lazy. Many don't think they will be able to stand against their resourceful neighbor.

The Midali are the oldest and strongest tribe in the entire Kingdom. They've managed to maintain peace for so many years by living only in their underwater cities. But when evolution steps in, they decide to move onto the land claiming their rightful place as unchallenged leaders of the Inception). The shark changelings have little patience for their relatively young jungle cat neighbors. And the quest to show their natural dominance has become nothing short of necessary passion.

But this is not a tale of war, or even of the wonders of science. This is a story of love. Its elements are familiar enough, despite their rather magical shroud. It is the story of a maiden, a heroic warrior, and just enough evil to make things interesting.

And as all good stories begin, this one shall start somewhere in the middle. As events unfold, they begin at the Gallion. It is the time of warrior celebration and furious tribal matches. People from differing tribes all across the planet congregate in one village to witness the fastest and strongest changelings in the heat of competition. To the cheering roar of spectators, warriors lock in battle to win the ultimate prize of honor.

But the Gallion with all its many challenges is merely a backdrop to the true issue at hand. And that would be the sudden blossoming relationship between the warrior and the maiden. Who through unforeseen circumstances have been rather abruptly forced together.

Our maiden, Elila is at the Gallion for the first time in her relatively young life. Sent by her parents to represent the family at the much hallowed event. Though unbeknown to Elila, her parents had other less honorable reasons for sending her. They turned their daughter over to the care of the tribe's premier warrior in hopes of solidifying marriage. Elila's changeling parent, her Alpha and ultimate ruler of the tribe has a dire but secret need for the girl to marry.

And the fair-golden warrior, Kellis knows all to clearly what Elila's parent's true intentions are. But Kellis isn't entirely sure she wants to be married to the maiden. She feels too young, too virile, and far too wanton to be tied down. But under the light of a clear moon with all the excitement of the Gallion, Elila would do nearly anything to change the warrior's mind.

So our scene opens in the darkness of the night and the warmth of a satiny bed. The maiden and the warrior lie side by side both lost in the dreams of sleep. But unfortunately for Elila, she's about to wake...

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It pushed her deep under the water's surface. She tried to struggle but just couldn't get free. It wrapped around her body strangling the very air from her lungs. The water seemed to be a dull crashing roar in her ears as she kicked and swayed. But she couldn't free herself; the murky water was just too deep.

And she couldn't swim. And It knew that too. It circled her letting her know that she was nothing more then prey. It seemed to enjoy her struggles for air and garbled pleas for mercy. But It simply did nothing. It only watched as her furtive struggles brought her ever closer to a watery grave.

She would always remember how It looked, the way It cut through the water like a smooth white knife. Even through her burning eyes, screaming ears, and suffocating lungs she would never forget the way It appeared when it finally pounced. It was the embodiment of raw power. It even seemed prehistoric with a desolate aura that made her heart lurch within her form. And under only the light of the full moon, It seemed somehow mythic.

But above all else, It was hungry. And it wanted all those things better left unspoken. And on some level she was even amazed by It. She was all alone with nature's perfect predator. And she felt terribly unimportant as it wrapped its limbs around her.

It collided into her body with the strength of pure steel. The few precious drops of air that still swam through her blood were suddenly strangled from her body. Her mouth opened in gaping pain as It slammed into her midsection. She tried to double over. She tried to cry. She tried to breath. But It wouldn't let her.

It only seemed to laugh as she drank in lungfuls of salt water. She felt It throw her from the dark water's surface and for a rich second she could breath. But It wasn't enough. Her lungs were too damaged and starved to truly aid her burning body.

And when she hit the water, things only got worse. It was there waiting for her, tearing into her body with maximum force. It was snarling with the fury of an ancient blood lust. It's eyes were the color of a chilling sea. And It's intent was more then clear. She was about to be devoured.

But instead of her flesh, it was only her shirt that was ripped from her back. The only thing that surprised her more was when the rest of her clothing was pulled away at crushing speeds. She was naked and struggling against a predator that couldn't be defeated. Her body was damaged and oxygen starved. And she had this terribly limp feeling as she began to float away from all the pain.

Then It suddenly let her go. The motion surprised her at first, how It pushed her away from it's body. It just lurked there, staring at her with wide electric eyes and an icy exterior.

But she couldn't swim away. She couldn't even keep her own body afloat. She thrashed and struggled with the slippery water reaching for the air she so desperately needed. Every single cell in her body screeched out in pain. It felt like hot acid had been poured right into her lungs. And then she knew, it was her pathetic attempts and squirms in the water that attracted It. She had been unknowingly sending off a mating call as old as time's earliest dawn.

She felt it move long before she saw It. The water next to her suddenly came rushing past with the force of a primal impact. It wrapped her up in It's steely limbs stopping her futile motions. She felt It's impossibly strong body trap her own and for the first time she gagged in true horror.

Instead of a simple hunt, instead of murder, she knew It had a far more devious plan. The impossibly smooth skin of It's body was now naked against her own. And from It's pants and snarls she knew all too clearly what was to happen next.

It lowered its toothy mouth to her fragile and bared neck. She couldn't tell what hurt worse, the pain of suffocation or the lanced agony in her neck. She felt it bite into her skin, unable to control it's predatory instincts. She didn't know how deep the wound was, nor did she care. She just wanted it over. She needed to stop the pain, the humiliation, and the fear. And if the escape of her own life would do that, then she would look forward to the final drop of blood leaving her body.

But such a release wasn't to be. Whether she knew it or not, she was a survivor. And her body was built to mate with the hunt. Her heart beat steady ignoring the sudden drain as the creature grouped and bit its way all across her soaking flesh. It brought her to the surface scant times. It wasn't because she needed air. It was only because it wanted a different position, a better angle to penetrate her.

The twin sensations of burning agony erupted in her lungs as well as the tender place between her legs. But It didn't seem to care. It had her there in the water for hours, spinning her body to and fro creating a splashy display of hungry ugliness. Their positions always changed. It's bites were always different eliciting a mixture of painful screams and futile struggles. And It's hands seemed to be able to fit everywhere at once. Every single space on her skin felt bruised, pinched, and punctured. The only constant was her tightly shut eyes as she tried to block out the watery horror.

She couldn't be sure how long it lasted or went on for. Her own body, not equipped for aquatic life, had given out some time ago. Her lungs were filled with water and the volatile blood loss had weakened even her most basic systems. Her own mind seemed to literally be swimming away on the wavy surface of the deep blue sea.

But then suddenly, everything stopped. The pain eased and her ribs coughed as she suddenly found herself being pulled from the water. She breathed in choppy gasps as It pulled her away to the familiar comfort of land. She didn't get to be relieved or even overjoyed at the prospect of living another day. Her body was too damaged to remain awake for such trivial emotions. Instead, she slipped quietly into the blanketing darkness of her own mind hoping to awake in a better place. But she knew nothing could ever be worse then those watery depths that were home to the dark creature of her blinding fear…

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"Hey are you okay?" Elila woke to the gentle soothing touches of a warrior quickly pulling her into a strong embrace. The girl couldn't say anything, not for a few moments anyway. The dream had been too much. It was always the same, the never-ending nightmare that refused to leave her mind. It's lurking presence infuriated her like nothing else ever had. She tried so hard to put all that behind her. She did everything she was supposed to. But even if she managed to muddle through her days, her nights always belonged to that terrible beast of the sea.

"You're okay. It was just a dream." Kellis murmured running her strong hands across the flushed and sweat covered back of the girl in her arms. Kellis had slept next to many women. And many of them had needed a comforting shoulder to rest against in the long hours of the night. But in all her years, she had never seen anything like what had overcome Elila. The poor girl had screamed at the very top her lungs. She had kicked and punched at the air trying to free herself from some invisible attacker. She had begged and pleaded for respite and mercy. And she had cried with this soul-searing pain that could only come from a broken heart, a strangled spirit, and a tortured memory.

"It's over now. You're okay." Kellis whispered desperately trying to sooth the girl. She rocked her slowly in her arms as she gently kissed the nape of her neck. They were familiar motions of comfort. But she had never used them with Elila.

The small girl tried to calm herself as the warrior held her. She hadn't wanted this to happen. She wished she could pluck the memory of that awful time in the water from the very depths of her own mind. But no such amnesia was available to her. Instead, she had to suffer the night tremors.

And until now, she had managed to hide her torment. Kellis had known something was wrong when she had returned. Elila just hadn't been the same. But vague ambiguities and an all out declaration of privacy had kept her secrets in tact. She hadn't told the warrior about the horrible things done to her that night in the murky black water.

But now, Kellis would have questions. And Elila had no answers to give. Kellis was one of her dearest friends. They loved each other with a deep caring affection and mutual trust that was unquestionable to all those around them.

Some time ago, things had started to change. Elila found herself relishing physical contact in any form with strong blonde cat warrior. She found her body quickening at the slightest glance in her direction. She found herself thinking all those romantic things that before had never crossed her mind. And before she knew what had happened, she found herself wanting so much more then simple friendship from the warrior.

But despite their closeness, Elila knew the warrior's physical affections lay elsewhere. Even though she let her mind entertain many a fantasy, she knew their was no truth in them. Elila was a good friend, a trusted confidant, and a loyal companion. She would never be the warrior's woman.

And that's what made tonight so tragic. She was only fighting herself as Kellis tried to sooth away her fears. She wanted to give into to the soft touch. She wanted to cling to the comfort and assurances she knew the warrior would readily give. She wanted to let herself cry. She wanted to let it all go.

But she couldn't. Kellis didn't love her, not like she wanted. And she wouldn't cling to a warrior that wasn't hers. She had to get used to being alone. She had to take care of herself because no one else was going to. And as much as she wanted to, she couldn't cry herself into the hysterical sobs that were forming in her throat.

"What is it? What happened?" Kellis asked gently cupping her face. The warrior wiped at the girl's tears watching the unabashed misery trickle across Elila's face. She didn't know what to do and she hated feeling impotent. Elila had no response. She only tried to free herself from the tight grip that surrounded her.

"Elila what's going on? What happened to you?" Kellis questioned knowing that something darker then a simple bad dream was causing the maiden's harried outburst.

"I… I can't talk about it." Elila managed to choke out. Which for more then one reason was the truth. Besides her personal feelings on the matter there were her parents to consider. That had made it clear that in no uncertain terms, was Elila ever to tell what really had happened out on the water. If she did, it could ruin everything.

They needed her to get married. They needed to know that the throne was secure. And if it was public knowledge that she was damaged goods, the possibility of a marriage contract fell into near oblivion. It was a terribly unfair situation, and it was one that was eating her up all inside.

"Elila please tell me. I want to help." Kellis spoke so softly and tenderly that it nearly broke the girl's heart right in two. The warrior could be so good to her. Kellis was always gentle and sweet with her. She made her feel special and in some ways even wanted. But she couldn't tell Kellis the truth; she didn't want the warrior's pity.

"I'm okay… I just need a glass of water." Elila answered still holding onto the hordes of tears that were begging for release. But Kellis wouldn't let her go. The warrior stared at her with dark yellow eyes searching her face for some kind of answer.

"Does this have to do with what happened when you were taken? Your parents told the village that everything was fine. They said that all of you were returned in perfect health. But that's not true is it?" Kellis spoke her thoughts aloud staring at the young maiden trapped in her arms. The warrior could feel her more primal nature begin shift within her. There was something about a helpless and crying woman that reduced her to a more basic instinct.

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Elila refused to meet her gaze and Kellis knew she was on the right track. The girl just hadn't been the same since her kidnapping. Elila rarely slept and when she did it was apparently a restless tremble filled with the fear of a tortured nightmare. The girl was moody and withdrawn refusing to even go out into the village. And she wore the strangest clothes since her abduction. Despite the hot fiery temperature of their jungle village, Elila was always outfitted in long sleeves and longer skirts. Kellis knew she was hiding marks of some kind; there was simply no other reason for it.

But Elila had always wanted to be left alone. She refused to answer the warrior's questions making Kellis even more suspicious of the girl's true experience. But what really set the warrior into panic mode was the time she did spend with Elila. She would have to purposely seek her out in the dark recess of her private rooms. Elila would never meet her gaze. She would only stare at the floor as if to wish it would swallow her whole.

Then one time Kellis had made the mistake of reaching for her. She had only wanted to comfort Elila, the girl seemed had seemed so small and shaken. But when her strong arms reach out to hold the girl, Elila had recoiled and screamed with all the force of pure terror. The girl had tried to explain away her actions. She had blamed them on simple nerves and a lack of sleep but Kellis knew otherwise. She had been on far too many hunting parties to be fooled by the mumbled statements of one panicked girl. She knew the sounds and screams of a hurt woman. She'd seen raided villages; she knew all too well what Elila was trying to hide.

And she had done her duty. Kellis was Elila's friend, she wanted to protect her and defend her from those that had obviously taken so much. She had stormed through the palace seeking out Elila's parents. She couldn't imagine that they didn't know what had really happened to their daughter. She couldn't conceive of the fact that they just might not care.

She found them in the garden, sunning themselves by the rich lavender air of the purple violets. Thash, the village ruler and Elila's alpha, was sitting at a white table obviously very involved in work. Tezara, the village Premier and Elila's mother, was lounging in the lush green grass. It was the woman who saw her first, smiling brightly and waiving her offer. Tezara was always so pleased to see her. Even Thash cast her a warm welcome.

They had exchanged pleasantries and spoke of the village. But she couldn't hold her questions for long. She wanted to know the truth about Elila. And more then anything, she wanted to help. But things hadn't worked out that way. Elila's parents assured her that nothing improper or malevolent had befallen their daughter. Even though she had been kidnapped and held captive for several days, they promised her that Elila was treated well. They said the girl had problems of a personal nature. They said to ignore her for the time being and she would snap out of it. Kellis didn't believe a word of it. She knew Elila too well to actually think that her dark somberness could be attributed to a simple female mood swing.

But Thash had looked her in the eyes and swore that nothing ill had happened to their fair daughter. And that had been good enough for Kellis. It had to be. Thash was the Alpha for the entire village, her word was law. And that had put her mind to rest, until now…

"Elila please tell me. Let me help." Kellis spoke softly trying to still the shaking sobs of the woman in her arms. But it wasn't working; her concern only seemed to be making things worse.

"Kellis let go of me." Elila cried with red-rimmed eyes and a flushed face. Instantly, the arms around her dropped away freeing her from the warrior's embrace. The girl fled the warmth of the bed trying to escape the prying gaze of Kellis' bright yellow eyes. She closed the door to the bathroom behind her locking out the harsh questions of the warrior in the other room. She quickly dressed knowing that despite the late hour her only solace would be found in the darkened streets of the village below.

The warrior was shocked when Elila came bursting through the room fully dressed with an obvious intent to leave. The girl wanted to just run but she knew Kellis would give chase. The changeling's very nature would allow for no less. She would have to explain her actions and with the choking sobs threatening to suffocate her, she didn't know if that were something she would be able to do.

"I need some air." Elila whispered hoping the changeling would prod no further. But the girl should have known better.

"Okay, I'll go with you." Kellis said leaving the bed to dress. The girl watched the jungle cat changeling as she stalked around the room. Kellis had worn only the skimpiest clothing possible to their shared bed. Her outfit consisted of nothing more then a near see through tank top with tiniest pants Elila had ever seen. The forest green of the fabric looked something akin to perfection as it lay across the golden creamy skin of the warrior. Her long blonde hair was swept up into a tight bun with just the loosest wisps threatening to break free.

"No thank you, I need to be alone." Elila spoke quickly trying to stop the changeling. The girl felt the matter had been closed as she turned to leave the bedroom. But a firm but soft hand on her shoulder stopped her retreat.

"I'm not letting you go alone. This is the Gallion Village. It's too dangerous out there at this time of night." Kellis said softly hoping that Elila would see the logic in her concern. The warrior didn't want to intrude on the girl's much needed space but she had to think of Elila's safety. She was responsible for the girl while they were here and she wasn't about to let her go walking off into the middle of the night.

"I'll be fine." Elila answered quickly trying to move away once again. She knew how Kellis felt about such matters of safety, but right now she didn't care. She just needed to be by herself.

"Elila I know you're upset. But we need to talk about this." Kellis said gently stroking the dark locks falling carelessly around the girl's face.

And for a moment, Elila wanted to tell her everything. She wanted to confess her feelings and all her pain. She wanted to tell the changeling about the night on the water. She wanted her to know about all the horrid things done to her tender body. She wanted Kellis to hold her. But the problem was she never wanted the warrior to let her go. And she knew Kellis. She knew about all the women who frequented her friend's bed. And Elila knew nothing could break her heart more then receiving the warrior's pity when all she really wanted was her love.

So she tried to ignore the comforting warmth in the hand resting against her cheek. She tried to resist her attraction to the taught muscular body standing in front of her. She tried to avoid looking into the sympathetic eyes that softly looked down at her. She tried to block it all out, because she just wanted it too much.

"I'll stay on the grounds." Elila answered forcing herself to leave. She was surprised and relieved when she made it from their quarters. Part of her expected the changeling to follow her from the suite demanding an explanation. And part of her was upset that Kellis didn't care enough to find out…

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But it wasn't the warrior she needed to think of. It was her kidnapping, rape, and near drowning that was plaguing her thoughts. Swiftly, she moved through the large building trying to find a quiet corner to seclude herself away in. Even at such a late hour, she passed a bar still brimming with people. A few lodging attendants even cast her a weary gaze as she flew by with swollen eyes and wheezing breath. Even the darkened swimming pool still had a few lingering couples not ready to give up on their displays of watery affection. She couldn't find a place to be alone, until she saw the darkened park lying just across the way.

Even though she had told Kellis that she wouldn't leave the lodging grounds she didn't see what choice she had. There was no place else to go. Stealing away from the bright lights of the Lodge, Elila wandered through the deserted alley until she reached the outskirts of the park. The foliage here was beautiful and she imagined that if it was daylight she might be quite enchanted by the beauty surrounding her. Even with the sole pale light of the crescent shaped moon, she could tell she was in the presence of true earthly beauty. The jungle foliage was a luscious green and the blossoming purple flowers were rich in aroma. Everything was so perfect, everything but her.

She cried for hours, letting her knees sink into the soft ground beneath her. She didn't care that her finest blue dress was getting ruined out here in the mud. She could only feel her pain. Though it had been awhile since it had all happened, time hadn't mended her wounds yet. She tried telling herself that she was getting better. She tried to believe that each day she was a stronger person. But then she would have another nightmare and all her progress seemed to vanish in the throws of the night.

It was so awful how she seemed to waiver between energy and despair. She felt like she was constantly trying to climb out of a gaping pit of depression but each time she managed to make it one wrung up, she fall down two. Sometimes she'd see the light of day peeking into her darkened tomb. The excitement would overcome her and she'd start to feel nearly normal. She'd even begin to think of her life in terms of the future, she would even think of marriage.

But then the coldness of her past would rear up and capture her once more. She'd fall flat on the ground unable to see the light that had seemed so close only moments before. Tangible progress seemed like some sort of elusive quality just out of arm's reach. And she'd have to pick herself up and start to climb all over again. But she was getting so very tired of the climb. She just didn't have the strength left.

And this nightmare had set her back tremendously. They were bad enough when she was all alone in the tentative safety of her own bed. But now, Kellis had witnessed the tumbling fear that gripped her. Kellis had seen her whimper and cry. Kellis had seen her pain. And in some way, it embarrassed her.

After Elila was attacked, she found herself secluded in a terrorizing cavern of fear. She was afraid of every changeling that crossed her path. Which was unfortunate considering the fact that she lived in a village of jungle cats. But despite her jumpiness and unease, she had never been afraid of Kellis, not once. She knew the flaxen warrior simply wasn't capable of the things that had been done to her. Kellis was gentle, tender, and always very careful with her. And when she realized how very comfortable she still felt with the warrior, that's when Elila realized the truth. She was in love with the golden changeling.

But she knew Kellis could never know. It was be far too humiliating. She couldn't even count on one hand how many women had professed their love to the warrior. Kellis always tried to handle it as delicately as possible. She was flattered but just not interested. The warrior's only true love was for her very single life. And Elila couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of woman could ever make the golden cat change her unruly ways.

But as Elila lay there on the ground staring up at the bright twinkling stars, she knew that such matters shouldn't concern her. Kellis would only ever be her friend. Despite the prodding protests of her eager parents.

She felt herself relax as the dull hum of the jungle came to life all around her. Dawn couldn't be far now; so many creatures were springing into action. Elila knew she should return to their quarters. Kellis would be asleep by now. And she would need a few hours of rest before the day's events began.

A lengthy walk and a few moments later, she returned to their shared room. Elila gave serious thought to joining the warrior in the large bed. But she knew such an action could only be ill fated. She would want to snuggle into the warmth of the strong body next to her. And Elila knew she shouldn't want such things, not from a friend. So with a tired body and a bleeding heart, Elila made a bed for herself on the plush sofa.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 2

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The warrior tightly shut away in the bedroom, heard the door to her suite open and close with a careful softness. She had to smile, Elila wasn't used to living with cats. No amount of cautious finesse could ever quiet her actions enough to go unnoticed by a changeling.

But Kellis didn't mind the gentle waking. She was glad to know that the girl had returned safely. She waited patiently for Elila to make her way back to their bed. But after several minutes passing and no sign of the girl, the warrior went to look for her.

She didn't have to go far. She found Elila stretched out on the couch with a blanket tightly wrapped around her obviously exhausted body. The girl didn't know she was there. And Kellis could tell from her flustered movements and short breath that she was far from reaching a peaceful sleep.

Kellis simply stared at her lost in thoughts at the night's events. She could tell Elila was still fighting off whatever demon had plagued her dreams. Her brow was furrowed, her jaw was clenched and her fists were tightly clutching the blanket held around her body. Elila was normally the perfect picture of dark beauty. But tonight, she looked desperate and hurt.

But the raven-haired beauty wouldn't let her help. And she wasn't sure what to do. There were only the loose bonds of friendship between them. And if she wasn't careful, she could easily overstep them. And Kellis didn't want that. She knew all too well what that would mean.

Elila's parents were already salivating at the thought of a marriage between their daughter and the village's strongest warrior. And she knew Elila herself had given the idea of their union several lengthy thoughts. Of course, the girl had never said anything but she didn't have to. She could tell by the long stares cast at her body when Elila thought wasn't looking. She could hear the slight increase in the maiden's pulse whenever their bodies were near. And she could smell the heavy pheromones swirling all around the girl every time she passed by.

She would never confront Elila about her private thoughts. The girl always acted with the perfect modicum of courtesy and decorum whenever they were together. She never acted inappropriately or made her feelings known. So Kellis let her obvious attraction pass by without a word.

Besides, the warrior knew there would be time for such things later. She did care deeply for the girl. Elila was the only female she had ever been a simple friend to. Every other woman in her life had passed in and out of her bed without any dialogue along the way. And the warrior had always been quite happy with that arrangement.

But Elila was different. They actually talked and spent time together without a single act of sexual contact. It was just so easy being in the company of the girl. Elila was amicable, kind, humorous and interesting. At times, the girl seemed to blend right in as a near sibling.

Although it was rare for the warrior to forget for any length of time that Elila was most certainly a woman. The girl's dark and mysterious looks saw to that. Despite that fact that half of her parentage was jungle cat, Elila received most of her obvious traits from her mother's swamp lineage. Elila showed off her heron heritage in a seductive display of beauty and elegance. Contrary to most people in their village, Elila had jet-black hair, green eyes, and the palest white skin Kellis had ever seen. Her lips were large and the softest pink. Kellis couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to gently slip her tongue through the pink swollen mouth. Her obvious heron genetics made it difficult not to notice her in a village filled with flaxen haired, golden-eyed women. Some people thought she looked odd or silly with her darker looks and thinner body. But Kellis had traveled enough to recognize beauty of all kinds. And she was most certainly attracted to the raven looks of the maiden.

But despite her growing affection and lusty attraction to the girl, Kellis was far from ready to make a commitment. And Elila was the village Alpha's daughter. She couldn't just have a bit of fun with the girl and then move onto the next. If she wanted to be with Elila she would have to be ready for the long-term. And Kellis wasn't. The warrior still had far too many battles to fight and beds to visit to even think about being tied down with a wife and children.

When the wanderlust and sexual cravings had faded from her system, she would make her pledge and marry the woman lying before her. She did want to marry Elila. She had even told the Alpha of her plans. But it was universally understood that this was in the distant future. Kellis wasn't ready to be Elila's mate, not yet anyways. But someday she would be ready. And she would make Elila the happiest woman in the entire village.

But until that day came, she would have to hold the girl at her arms length. Even when it appeared Elila needed a much closer touch. With thoughts of the future dancing through her mind, the warrior knelt down next to the now sleeping girl. She kissed Elila softly on the cheek trying not to disturb her with the warm brush of her lips. And without a backward glance, Kellis retreated to the bedroom alone, determined to keep a healthy amount of space between her and the maiden.

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The rising of the sun brought the commencement of the Gallion. And by the time Elila managed to awaken, the day's events were already well underway. The girl rolled over on the narrow couch nearly tossing herself right onto the floor. And after a few moments of disorientation, Elila realized that she was very much alone.

That in itself didn't really surprise her. Since Kellis was competing in the championship she knew the warrior would need to leave their rooms with the breaking of day. But everything seemed so different in the afternoon sun. There rooms had this creepy silence permeating the walls that made her miss the soft noises of the swamp.

She stood straightening her clothes and feeling her exhaustion. Her sleep last night could hardly be categorized as restful. And her body was suffering the effects. Elila's thoughts were centered solely on the acquisition of breakfast in any form, when she happened to walk past a clock. It was nearly 3PM. She couldn't believe how late she slept, how tired she still felt, and how tardy she was going to be.

Rushing through the suite she hurriedly pulled her hair back madly wiping the sleep from her face. She rushed through the bedroom trying to find something to put on besides the mud-stained dress she was currently wearing. And after a few quick bites of a stale cookie, she ran all the way to the Emporium.

The Gallion was a site to behold as she hurriedly stalked up to the gate entrance. The Emporium that held it each year was the largest structure in the entire world. It was a stadium equipped to sit spectators from every tribe all over the planet. It contained rows and rows of seats that were impossible for the naked eye to count. And the arena where the warrior's battled was the largest field Elila had ever set her eyes on. But none of the sights even compared to the noise. Elila could hear the screams and shouts from spectators just by standing next to the structure. She imagined that once inside their screams would surely pierce her ears with a deafening thunder.

The stadium was surrounded by bright brilliant flags of every color and size proudly waving in the light day's breeze. Her eyes searched through the colors trying to find the ones that she would recognize. She saw the flag of her parent's tribe, the Fasara, with its gold trim and black markings that formed the symbol of the jungle cats. But no matter how she stared she couldn't find the flag of the swamp. And it bothered her. The swamp was a part of the Kingdom just like any other tribe; she didn't see why it didn't deserve a flag. Rationally, she knew of course that the swamp hadn't been invited to attend the Gallion in centuries. The swamp was considered a loose band of miscreants that had no honor and took part in whatever devious pleasure that came their way. But the swamp was her home and she couldn't help but take such an obvious slight a bit personally.

"There you are!" Elila turned hearing a friendly voice call out to her from the gatekeeper's line. Her best friend Yamina was patiently waiting for her. Elila took one look at Yamina's appearance and began to feel self-conscious. Yamina was proudly wearing all of their tribe's colors. Even her face was painted to match the jungle cat insignia.

And besides her friend's obvious display of tribal pride, Yamina looked like she had put hours of care into creating her look. Her long dirty blonde hair had been neatly plaited into an ornate display. Her make-up was filled with bright red and green hues expertly applied to her golden skin. And her long black and gold dressed showed off all her best features. Yamina was a descendant of pure jungle cat lineage and her body showed it. Unlike Elila with her lithe frame and wispy features; Yamina was curvy and round with a tall high breast line, rounded hips, and smooth wide thighs. Sometimes, Elila couldn't help but envy her friends soft female body.

"Hey… Sorry… Have you been waiting long?" Elila looked down at her own attire. She looked nice for someone who had only just woken up moments ago. But she certainly wasn't representing her tribal loyalty with her dark lavender dress. Yet, she couldn't help but think that it didn't matter. She would probably look very silly if she had dressed up like Yamina. Anyone who took one look at her knew she wasn't a jungle cat. And she was terribly tired of having to explain that she was only have cat, when her body looked like it had just risen from the very marshes of the swamp.

"Nope, I just got here. What's up? You seem weird." Yamina commented noticing the spacey look in her friend's normally vibrant emerald eyes.

"I just woke up. I'm tired and hungry." Elila answered moving through the gate line with Yamina closely behind her.

"You just woke up??? You missed all the morning events?" Yamina questioned rather loudly. She knew the kind of trouble Elila was in for. Her parents had sent their daughter in their absence. Elila should have been here in dawn's early morning to cheer for all the jungle cat warriors. Elila's tardiness would be scene as grave disrespect, especially to her alpha Thash, the village ruler.

"I know. I had an awful night." Elila answered wandering through the crowded halls of the Emporium looking for their seats.

"What happened?" Yamina asked concerned a bit uncomfortable with the thronging crowd of people surrounding them.

"I had issues with Kellis." Elila whispered rather vaguely as they past by some women from their tribe. Though they didn't know them, both girls gave them polite nods as they walked by.

"Oh, do tell?" Yamina answered quirking her eyebrows. She knew that Elila had a rather devious interest in a certain golden warrior. And the thought of Elila and Kellis sharing a bed had led to all sorts of improper thoughts.

"It was nothing like that. I had a nightmare." Elila answered pulling Yamina into the only deserted corner she could find. With people bustling in every direction it was quite the accomplishment. But Elila felt reasonably certain of their privacy safely tucked behind the large trash compactors.

"A nightmare?" Yamina asked a bit confused at first.

"Yeah, you know what I mean…" Elila trailed off knowing that she wouldn't have to elaborate. Unfortunately, her best friend knew exactly what she meant.

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When Elila had been kidnapped it had been because she was the Alpha's daughter. But three other women had been taken as well. All were relatives of other important members of the Fasara tribal council.

And Yamina had been one of those unfortunate three. Yamina's alpha was the chief treasurer of the tribe. And because of that, she had been kidnapped as well. And both women had suffered the same regrettable fate while in the terrorizing clutches of their captors.

"You were doing so well." Yamina idled knowing how much better her friend had seemed. Yamina didn't know how Elila did it. Elila went through each day with her head held high and a hopeful stare gradually returning to her eyes. It was obvious to anyone who knew the girl that she was suffering greatly. But Elila refused to let it destroy her. She still got up each day with the bold attempt of moving forward into something better.

But Yamina on the other hand hadn't adapted quite so well. She still refused to sleep with the lights off. And she couldn't even stomach the thought of walking by water. Her parents had been so wonderful to her. But no matter how many times they told her it was going to be okay, she just knew it wasn't. Her body had eventually healed from the pain of the attack. But each day, Yamina felt her mind slipping further and further away.

"I know. I don't know what happened. But I woke up screaming. Kellis wanted to know why. And of course, I couldn't tell her." Elila said knowing how much the Alpha's decision to keep a full vow of secrecy had hurt both girls. So many times Elila wanted to climb onto the nearest rooftop and shout out to the entire village what had happened to them. She wanted someone to acknowledge her pain. She wanted people to understand that she was fighting for the very state of her mind. But she was forbidden from uttering a single word. And Elila was growing so very weary of suffering in silence.

"What did you do?" Yamina asked knowing how difficult it had been for her friend to keep the attack from Kellis.

"I left. I just went out." Elila answered hearing the buzzer that signaled the start of the late afternoon rounds. Yamina looked like she had more to say on the subject but now wasn't the time. In silent thought, both girls finally made their way through the crowded and noisy stadium searching for their seats.

As part of the tribal council, Elila and Yamina had a choice view lofted high above the common fans and spectators. They saw a few other familiar people from their tribe as they passed by. But none greeted the two girls; Elila and Yamina weren't widely liked. It bothered Yamina more then the raven-haired girl seated next to her. Elila had an excuse for her rather unpopular reputation. The Alpha had done the unthinkable when she had married a woman not of jungle cat heritage. But Tezara had eventually won over the begrudging approval of the tribe. Though of swamp origin, Tezara had light caramel features that helped her to blend in. And Tezara was no friend to her own people. She had proved her allegiance to the jungle cats on more then one occasion.

But Elila was the unlucky offspring of two parents from dire conflicting backgrounds. And unlike her mother, Elila had dark midnight features that made her stand out like a lightning bolt in a tribe of tawny jungle cats. Elila was a constant reminder to the tribe that the Alpha had broken sacred tradition and married a woman from the swamp. Elila had become the quick scapegoat for tribal conflicts of all kinds. And after years of harsh teasing, anger, and outright physical violence her parents did the only thing they could. They sent Elila back to the swamp, gravely concerned for their daughter's safety.

And Yamina knew how happy Elila had been there. It had only been recently that Elila had returned to the Fasara. And it was only under the direst circumstance that the Alpha had sent for her unwelcome offspring.

But there was no such reason for Yamina's universal dislike. She was a pure jungle cat. Her parents were even members of the tribal council. Unlike Elila, there was no blaring reason for people not to like her. She never knew if it was because she was too quiet, too shy, or even just too nervous. She didn't know the reason; all she knew was how very painfully isolated she was.

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Taking her seat, Elila scanned the arena floor noticing that the warriors hadn't taken their places yet. But it wouldn't be long now. The crowd was in an uproar each person cheering madly for their favorite tribe. The next match would be a team event between the ocelots and the panthers. Elila wasn't particularly interested in it but knew her presence was expected, especially after she had already missed so much.

"Nice of you to show up." Elila looked down hearing the irked tones of an all too familiar voice. The much avoided Narlene was obviously annoyed by her late arrival. And Elila couldn't care less. Every tribe had a busy body and Narlene had claimed that title for herself a long while ago.

"I didn't know you were coming." Yamina idled looking at the perfect woman standing before them. Narlene was the epitome of feminine jungle cat beauty. She had the most perfect wavy gold hair, bright yellow eyes, a warm rounded figure, and the creamiest skin Yamina had ever seen. The worst thing was just how perfect Narlene knew she looked. Yamina knew the beautiful girl would have been married long ago if hadn't been for acidic personality. Everyone wanted to bed her; the problem was that no one wanted to stay.

"Of course I came. I am loyal to my tribe. I was here at dawn. I couldn't help but notice that neither of you were here though." Narlene scoffed thinking how undeserving both girls seemed of the tribal council.

"Well, it's been lovely speaking with you Narlene. But the match is about to begin." Elila said quietly not bothering to hide the sarcasm in her voice. Narlene gave them one final leering snarl before turning back around to find her seat in the midst of the crowd.

"I hate her…" Elila whispered not wanting anyone to overhear her unflattering comment.

"I know. I just don't think its possible for her to become more of a bitch if she tried. Why was she here at dawn? She doesn't have family competing in the Gallion. And she's not married." Yamina snapped hating the woman just as much as her friend.

"That's the point. She came to see all the strongest warriors. She has to pick out her mate." Elila answered thinking it odd that Narlene's parents had never successfully married her off. There was no doubt how absolutely beautiful Narlene was. If they could just get her to keep her mouth shut, she could have given them grandchildren by now.

"I can't believe she's been here all day. I didn't even want to come now." Yamina said shifting uncomfortable in her seat. Elila looked at her friend and saw all the worry and shame etched across her features.

"You'll be fine. We both will." Elila said trying to sound reassuring.

"Yeah, I know…" Yamina answered letting her attention fall on the match below. Things were apparently really heating up if the crowd's claps and cheers were any indication. Yamina looked at her friend wishing she had Elila's knowledge of the Gallion. It was only the most important event to warriors all across the globe, but Yamina understood none of it. Her alpha had never bothered to teach her such things.

But it wasn't her lack of knowledge that was bothering Yamina. It was everything else. The roar of the crowd, the heat of the sun, and the closeness of the people were all serving to unsettle her already fragile disposition. Someone from her home had to attend the Gallion. Tribal laws would allow for no less. Her parents just couldn't bring themselves to go. They were peace lovers and such a display of obvious battle lust ruffled all their righteous moral indignations. But Yamina didn't really have an ethical problem with the Gallion itself. So she agreed to go in place of her family.

And now she couldn't help but wonder if that had been a mistake. Since she had been attacked, crowds had bothered her. Loud noises had frightened her. And being around even the most familiar warrior could leave her shaking. The Gallion had all three aspects of her fear running right through its very core.

She looked over at Elila wishing she could posses the girl's calmness and obvious comfort. Elila was paying close attention to the match and clapping in all the right places. Her friend didn't seem to be bothered by any of the elements that had Yamina growing into a steady panic.

"Was that good?" Yamina leaned over asking Elila. She saw all the warriors clearing the arena and heard the loud gong of the buzzer.

"Yeah, that was good." Elila answered laughing a bit at her friend's confusion.

"Why?" Yamina asked figuring that knowledge of the sporting event might actually take her mind off more painful matters.

"Because the panthers held them down at the 4th marker. They totally shut off all their paths of escape." Elila explained not sure how much her friend really understood about the Gallion.

"And why is that good?" Yamina asked still totally confused.

"Because the panthers are our allies. And if they win this round then they can fight with us in the final event. Essentially it just means we get to have more people on our team. Which is good because that means that match gets to double down." Elila answered trying to sum up the events below.

"Why do you know all this?" Yamina asked unable to believe that Elila's parents had taken the time to explain the Gallion. Yamina knew first hand how very little affection there was between the Alpha and Elila.

"Because the Gallion is the most profitable event to bet on. Everyone in the swamp talks about nothing but the Gallion for months. Believe me, I know all the ins and outs of betting on these matches." Elila answered a bit proud of her swamp-born knowledge.

"Hey, when does Kellis compete?" Yamina asked knowing that nothing short of a flood could make her friend miss that.

"In about an hour." Elila answered embarrassed by her knowledge. She had memorized the warrior's schedule like some sort of lovesick child.

"I can't wait." Yamina answered placing a gentle hand on her friends shoulder.

"I'm gonna get some food, do you wanna come?" Yamina asked bored by the sporting event already.

"No, but can you get me some sugar berries? I'm starving." Elila asked not wanting to miss the next round.

"Sure." Yamina answered disappearing into the throng of people. Yamina made her way back to the concession hall and stood in a line about the length of a short eternity. But it didn't really bother her. And since she didn't understand the events going in the arena, she didn't feel like she was missing much. So without another word, Yamina went off in search of food.

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She stood behind unfamiliar people rather content to just gaze off into space, when she heard the laugh of a familiar voice. Turning to the side she saw two women from her tribe eagerly discussion something together. She knew Xalynn only in passing. But Merinae had at one time been a rather close friend. They had gone to school together and had once spent a great deal of time together. When Elila had moved to the swamp Merinae had been her only friend left in the village.

But as friends often do when one gets married, they had fallen out of touch. Yamina envied the broach proudly displayed around Merinae's neck. She began to suspect she would never know the feel of a diamond broach. Her prospects had been poor before the attack. But after, she knew she was destined to live the life of a single woman.

Luckily, Merinae didn't see her. She knew the girl would feel obligated to come greet her. But Yamina was in no mood for forced pleasantries.

The line moved a little which afforded Yamina a wider view of the area around her. And after a few more moments she saw Merinae's mate come join the women. Yamina watched with unhindered jealousy as Yoel placed an affection kiss on her wife's eager lips. The couple looked so happy and peaceful. It was hard for Yamina to believe that Merinae had been with them on that awful night. Merinae had been taken because of her mate. Yoel was the youngest member of the tribal council.

But Merinae didn't even seem uncomfortable when her mate wrapped a strong arm around her waist. It was the quite the contrary. The woman seemed to lean into the touch relishing the contact. Yamina couldn't imagine such a thing and felt her dark green envy double. Merinae had the support of a loving mate to help her through the trauma of the attack. But Yamina didn't have anyone. Sure her parents tried to be there for her but it just wasn't the same.

Deciding that gawking at the happy couple probably wasn't the most polite thing to do Yamina turned her attention back to the line she waited in. The minutes seemed to trickle by as people ahead of her slowly gave their order. She heard continual shouts and claps from the stadium below and knew she should get back. She didn't want to miss Kellis' match.

Finally, after what seemed like a shortened infinity, Yamina began the long walk back out to her seat. She was rounding the last gray corner before the stadium clutching her food firmly in her hands. And it was good thing because the person she ran into shocked her to her very core.

"Oh my, I'm sorry. I have to remember to go slower here." The changeling said lightly touching her arm after their untoward collision. But Yamina couldn't find her voice. She wanted to scream but nothing came out. Her mouth hung wide open and her eyes filled with shock. Standing right before her was the very object of her worst fears. It was a shark changeling. It was a warrior from the Midali tribe, the tribe that had captured her so many months ago.

"Are you okay?" The changeling asked lightly fingering her neck worried that her high speed had caused some kind of damage to the girl. But Yamina couldn't say anything. They stayed like that for several more seconds just staring at each other. Finally, Yamina found the power of motion and ran off towards the relative safety of the stadium.

She pushed her way through the crowd eliciting several complaints and a few return shoves. But she didn't care. She had to get to Elila. Her friend needed to know the danger that they were in.

Elila had been enjoying the fierce action of the sporting event below. Even though she was far from the nearest swamp gambling post, she found it added a certain element to the sport to mentally count up the money exchanged by the action on the arena below. She knew her grandparents well enough to know they had a large sum of money riding on this event. She didn't know the exact figure but she suspected it was enough to make even the wealthiest jungle cat blush. Her grandparents couldn't help it. They were swamp folk born and raised. Betting was in there blood.

And with the sudden turn of events in the match below, she suspected her swamp kin had just made a large sum of money. But Elila had been so caught up in the action below that she hadn't noticed how long her friend had been gone for. She hadn't given much thought to Yamina at all. Not until she saw the girl jump into the seat next to her with a white face and trembling hands.

"What is it?" Elila asked worried. Gently she took the food and drink from the girls hands worried that they would spill from the tremors ripping through Yamina's body.

"They're here…" She managed to gasp out in a tight whisper. The very admission had caused hysteric spasms to tear through the girl's form. Elila glanced around noticing that her friends fear had started to attract the stares of other spectators. But there was nothing she could do. She couldn't very well force Yamina through a crowd of anxious sports fans.

"Whose here?" Elila whispered back wondering what had caused her friends terror. Yamina had experienced frequent panic attacks ever since the kidnapping. But Elila had never seen her go through anything like this.

"The Midali… I ran into one of the warrior's on my way back here." Yamina finally managed to gasp out. Elila looked around trying to spot a shark changeling in the crowd around her.

Normally, the Midali stood out. They were among the tallest of warriors with gray skin and electric blue eyes. And of course, they all had a toothy grin no one could miss. But even with their obvious physical characteristics Elila couldn't see any of them. There were far too many people at the Gallion. Even a shark changeling could blend into the crowd.

"Who was it?" Elila asked worried her friend had run into one of the changelings that had attacked them.

"I don't know. I didn't recognize her." Yamina answered relieved that she hadn't seen one of their captors. Aimlessly running into her rapist would have sent the girl into complete hysteria.

"Okay, well it was probably no one important." Elila said trying to gather herself together. She had known the Midali would be here. Since the peace treaty had been negotiated the Midali had been invited to participate in the Gallion. Elila could even see their dark blue tribal flag waving proudly from all the way across the stadium.

"You knew they would be here?" Yamina asked shocked. She couldn't believe that Elila would consent to go anywhere that the Midali may be.

"Yeah…look!" Elila answered pointing to the tribal flag so recognizable to both girls. Elila and Yamina were intimately familiar with the Midali tribal insignia. They had seen quite a lot of it during their time as hostages.

"Oh my god!!!" Yamina gasped out feeling the beginnings of hyperventilation.

"Hey, don't worry it's okay. The chances that they're here is very slim. The Midali have a very large tribe. There are countless warriors they could have sent. They probably aren't here." Elila whispered trying desperately to calm the girl next to her. Elila knew she didn't need to explain the 'they' she had been referring to. There had been four of them that had taken the girls from their jungle tribe. And those four would never be forgotten; no matter how long either girl lived.

"I have to get out of here." Yamina cried out far too loudly. Her shriek even garnered the notice of Narlene who sent her a dirty stare.

"I have to stay." Elila whispered feeling guilty about sending her obviously distressed friend off on her own.

"That's okay. I'll catch up with you at the Lodge later." Yamina said trying not to break down into hysterics in front of all those people. She pushed through the crowd with a panic-stricken need for space and air. She ran from the Emporium and didn't stop until she was convinced she had put the Midali warrior far behind…

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 3

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Elila sat through all the questioning stares as Yamina tore off. She wouldn't give anyone the benefit of a worried glance. Briefly Elila wondered if she shouldn't go off after her friend, despite her duty to attend the Gallion. But she knew that Yamina liked to be alone when she was upset.

Besides her parents would never have forgiven her if she only attended a few hours of the Gallion. As it was, she was already in a heap of trouble for her tardiness. She needed to do everything possible avoid any more. And now that Narlene had made the point of commenting on her late arrival, Elila knew the whole village would seen be privy to her unintentional mistake.

After a few more alarms and one long signal, Elila knew it was time. Everyone around her sat up just a little bit straighter in their seats. Their warriors were making their way onto the arena floor. The jungle cats were preparing for their ultimate match. And Kellis was leading the battle.

From her towering height, Kellis looked miniature and weighted. She was wearing a veritable ton of protective armor. Elila didn't know how she could possibly move under it. But she knew how strong her friend was. The cats were fighting the dholes, a natural opponent of their tribe. Elila heard the whispered sounds of anticipation of her fellow tribe mates. Everyone was anxious and nervous. The Gallion meant so much to her people.

The alarm sounded and the match began. Elila had never been so frightened. The battle below was ruthless and savage. And she didn't know what she would do if Kellis was injured. And injuries were quite common here at the Gallion. It went with the territory. Warriors proudly showed off their scraps and scars for the rest of the year telling stories of victories and defeats. But some warriors suffered more permanent injuries like broken bones and crushed muscles. Last year, a changeling had even died.

And right now, Elila wished that something would stop the battle below. This was Kellis' second time as a competitor. She tried to tell herself that Kellis knew what to do. She had thrived in battle last year. But Elila knew enough about the Gallion to realize that one year wasn't knowledge, it was luck.

Kellis had done well the previous year. She had triumphed to such a degree that they had made her the team Alpha this year. Her warrior friend was the unabashed best of the jungle cat tribe. And Elila was proud of her; she just didn't want to see Kellis hurt. She knew how prideful her warrior friend could be. Illness or injuries were not circumstances that Kellis could adapt to.

Below, the match went on in a long and tedious manner. Several times Elila saw Kellis go down on the field. But each time her friend managed to get back up. Elila found herself madly gripping the seat handles desperately hoping for her friend's safety. But Kellis was so brave and powerful, fighting all the opponents that crossed her path. Despite rather challenging odds, Kellis ultimately stood her ground. And after several more lengthy bone crushing exchanges, the jungle cats had their victory. Elila stood with the rest of the spectators cheering loudly for her tribe. The win would mean much to the Fisara. Elila knew how pleased her parents would be.

She finally sat back down feeling relieve course through her body. She had seen enough to know that Kellis had been hurt. But it wasn't serious or the warrior would never have been able to walk off the field under her own power. No, Elila knew she could finally breath easy. The Fasara had won and Kellis would be fine.

The girl sat there for several seconds just enjoying the victory of her tribe when she noticed Narlene in the aisle below. The woman was affectionately leaping into the arms of any warrior that would let her. And for some reason it made Elila smile. She had never seen anything quite so ridiculous.

Over the next few minutes most of the spectators in her section rushed to leave. The win of her tribe meant a large victory celebration back at the Lodge. Elila knew she would have to make an appearance. Though, large parties certainly weren't her favorite past time.

But she was in no hurry to leave. With the crowds blocking the walkways she knew it would be quite some time before she could go any real distance. So, she decided to stay and watch the next few matches.

The next match was between the reptiles and the poison amphibians. Elila found herself particularly interested because of her former home. The reptiles were allies to the swamp and Elila hoped they somehow managed to win. Personally, she thought the odds were in their favor. No changeling alive could possibly break the hold of reptile once it had coiled.

After the first rather exciting match Elila found she couldn't quite tear herself away. She ended up staying through all the reptile and amphibian matches. They were thrilling to watch. The acrobatics the opponents performed while dueling each other was nothing less then surreal. And by the time Elila heard the alarm that signaled the end of their battle she realized she was nearly alone.

Glancing through the stands surrounding her she saw only a scant number of people still in attendance. It didn't surprise her; she was seated in the area reserved for the jungle tribes. Since all the Fisara matches were over for the day, most of the spectators had gone.

But the stands across the stadium were still brimming with people and excited sports fans. And she knew why. It was the place sectioned off for the water tribes. Their matches were still to come. And from the looks of the large white water tanks being pulled out onto the arena floor, they were about to begin.

The sounds from across the stadium were excited and flushed, as suddenly the arena floor became one large pool of water. She could easily pick out the reptiles, amphibians, fish, whales, and sharks across the way from her. At first it unsettled her. But then her thoughts returned to the swamp. And she knew that if her grandparent's tribe ever joined the Gallion they would be sitting right over there, right next to the Midali. For some reason, the thought helped to calm her and she settled back into her seat to watch the next match.

Elila knew she should be on her way. But she couldn't tear herself away from the sporting action below. And besides, she wasn't in a real hurry to get back to the Lodge. She had been to enough tribal parties to know what to expect. She would be forced to exchange a few polite words with some people. Kellis would ignore her to go dance with other women. And she and Yamina would end up in a dark corner feeling sorry for themselves. Elila found that she was far more interested in staying right were she was.

Besides that, she was finding the presence of the reptiles and amphibians oddly comforting. It had been too long since her last visit to the swamp. And she much preferred the company of the marsh dwellers to those of her cat tribe. She wondered if she knew anyone competing in the matches. The swamp was a plethora of reptile warriors. She supposed she could go over and mingle a bit but the thought of having walk through any Midali stopped her from moving an inch. She would stay right where she was, safely across the stadium. Despite all her hard earned mental progress she wasn't quite ready to go socialize with the sharks…

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The alarm chimed and she anxiously watched the arena below. She was surprised to see the Midali competing so early. Being night predators, she had thought their matches wouldn't come till much later. But judging by the darkness of the sky overhead, it was already quite late.

She was going to leave, not really interested in watching the sharks when a familiar figure caught her eye. Entering the arena below was a shark she knew all too well. She was tall with tightly woven blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Her skin had an all too familiar gray pallor that Elila remembered feeling against her own. Her name was Pedryn, and she was the changeling that had raped her.

Scanning the team below she saw more familiar faces amongst the warriors. They were all there, every single last one of them. She was so glad that Yamina wasn't here to see it. The girl would have passed out right where she stood.

The Midali seemed confident as they entered the water. Pedryn seemed to be the Alpha of the group. The three others that Elila recognized seemed to be taking their cues from her. There were a few other shark warriors in the water that Elila didn't know. She tried to focus on their movements instead of those of Pedryn.

She knew she should go. There was no good reason for her to stay and watch this. But she found that her legs wouldn't stand. Her body refused to move. And she just couldn't turn away.

The battle began and even through the watery surface Elila could see how fierce it was. The Midali were competing against the Orcas, their natural tribal enemy. Elila watched the speed and strength of the shark warriors remembering all too clearly how it felt to be in the water with them. They were ruthless, cunning, and impossibly strong. And they were most certainly winning. Due to Gallion laws the Midali could only compete against other water tribes. But Elila suspected that such things wouldn't really matter to them. She had the strongest feeling that the shark warriors would be just as victorious out of the water as in it.

But at the moment, Pedryn was tearing her way through Orcas. The sharks were attacking in a familiar circular pattern. Elila recognized their battle frenzy when she saw it. She knew it wouldn't be long now, the Midali were mere seconds from victory.

It was the strangest thing to sit there and watch Pedryn compete. Since it had happened, the shark changeling had plagued her thoughts and starred in her nightmares. Elila was constantly aware of her ever-present fear.

It didn't matter where she was or what she was doing. Elila found that she was always scanning the crowds around her for signs of danger. She never felt safe. She never felt like she could just drop her guard and take a deep breath. She always had to be aware of those around her. Except for last night, when she had laid next to Kellis. Elila had never felt that kind of security before. And she found that it was feeling she never wanted to let go of.

But a few near tidal splashes brought Elila's focus back to the match at hand. She tried to sift through her own mind looking for the reason that compelled her to stay. She could feel her frustration mounting in her rigid body. Since the attack, her own feelings had been nothing but a complicated conglomeration of negative emotions. Elila experienced a veritable rainbow of anger, pain, vengeance, humiliation, sadness, and depression until she found herself begging for silence. She had never felt this volatile before. And Elila found herself resenting the complex emotions that she didn't understand and had no idea how to deal with.

She felt her eyes quickly tracking Pedryn's lightning like movements deep under the water's surface. She couldn't take her eyes off her. It was a silly thought but she found herself wandering if Pedryn knew she was here. Being the Alpha's daughter anyone could probably assume that Elila would be in attendance.

But Elila found herself wondering if Pedryn had given her any thought. She wondered if the shark changeling was hoping to avoid her for the entire Gallion festivities. She wondered what Pedryn would say if they met. But the strange thing was Elila didn't know what she would want to hear. An apology seemed so mundane after everything that was done to her. And she doubted the bloodthirsty shark warrior would give her one anyways. She had fantasies about confronting Pedryn on the relative safety of land. But in her mind, Pedryn had always been weak and confused by the grainy dirt under feet. But in reality Elila finally saw the truth. It didn't matter where she was, Pedryn would still always be a threat to her.

She began to wonder if it would matter to Pedryn that she was watching. She wondered if it might throw her timing off a bit to know that her most recent victim sat high up in the stands. Or she wondered if the fact might excite the warrior. Perhaps, Pedryn would fight that much harder just to show Elila how truly strong she really was.

And as she watched the battle unfold Elila had no idea what she expecting. To want the entire Midali tribe to loose because of one evil warrior sounded childish and bad mannered even to her own mind. But she didn't know if she would really feel that much better if Pedryn lost.

Then the strangest thing happened. One of Orcas got Pedryn in a dangerous lock around her neck. Suddenly, Elila found herself jumping from her seat to get a better look. The whole incident only took mere fractions of the smallest seconds but Elila found herself desperately hoping that Pedryn survived. She was praying for the shark warrior just as intensely as she had prayed for Kellis only hours ago.

But she finally realized her prayers were born from two very separate emotions. She loved Kellis and never wanted to see harm come to the golden warrior. But she couldn't even begin to explain the negative array of emotions that she felt for Pedryn. But she knew that whatever she felt for the shark changeling was large and vacuous, filling her up with confusion and desperation in ways that she had never felt before. But she knew that if Pedryn died she would suffer terribly. Without the person of her desperation around to take emotional aim at, Elila would be left to deal with her feelings in way that she wasn't ready for. In a way she needed Pedryn, if only to be the object of her hate.

Finally, after a few more bloody exchanges the Orcas gave up floating out of the arena with obvious injury and little pride. But the Midali jumped from the water right back into the stands. She saw one of them limp slightly as the warrior made its way through a nearby aisle. But Pedryn couldn't have a scratch on her, despite her perilous pursuit. She was energetic, uninjured and brimming with joy. She was quite the contrasting picture to how Kellis had appeared when the jungle match had finally ended. Kellis had fought bravely and had achieved a great victory in the end. But it had been a difficult fight for her warrior friend. Pedryn didn't even look winded as she wandered away to join the rest of her team.

Emotionally exhausted, Elila slumped into the comfort of her seat. The Midali looked just as superior as always. And now Elila had the harrowing thought of joining her tribe at a party and pretending like absolutely nothing was wrong. She had to pretend like she wasn't frightened of the Midali. She had to pretend like she had never been hurt. And she had to pretend like she hadn't lost her innocence in the choppy waters of the deep blue sea.

As she walked back to the Lodge she found herself constantly looking over her shoulder. Every fast moving changeling she saw worried her with it's speed. She listened to the voices around her wondering if at any moment Pedryn might jump out and attack her. Her thoughts centered on Kellis, and how very much she wished her friend was here. Kellis always made her feel better with her feline grace and changeling strength. But Elila doubted that even Kellis could take on Pedryn. The Midali were nature's wild song of predation with unrivaled strength and reflexes. Given what had happened to her, Elila was sometimes surprised by how easily her body had come through the attack. Pedryn could effortlessly have killed her.

It was a terrorizing thought that made her feel terribly small and unimportant. But Elila knew she couldn't think of such things. She had party to get to, a fake smile to put on, and small talk to make.

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When she returned to the Lodge, the party was already in full swing. The jungle cats had taken over the entire first floor lobby with their victory celebration. The music was a pounding array of warrior anthems. The lights were dimmed for the convenience of public affection. The drinks were flowing freely. The people were laughing, dancing, and holding onto each other with an innate need to rejoice. And even though Elila had just walked through the door, she already couldn't wait to leave.

"There you are. Where have you been?" Yamina yelled to her friend trying to be heard over the blaring music. Elila grabbed the girl and began to push her way through the winding rhythmic crowd. She knew that Yamina had no interest in joining the synchronized dancing of their fellow tribe mates. And though Elila did like to dance, she never quite got the hang of the coordinated lines the jungle cats preferred to move in.

Elila pulled Yamina out into the back lawn of the Lodge. It was a familiar enough path for her, considering her desperate walk during the wee hours of the previous night. As she stood on the black marble of the ornate patio Elila could see the outline of the memorable park in the distance. Even with only the moon to show the way, she could make out the faint path she had run down only a night before.

Nervously, Elila glanced around wondering if this area provided them with the privacy they needed. Because what Elila had to tell her friend, needed to be said in seclusion. No one else needed to know about the Midali. And no one else needed to see how the horrible news impacted the already fragile Yamina.

Standing on the very tops of her lavender shoes, Elila scanned the surrounding yard. It was times like this that Elila wished she had inherited the benefits of jungle vision from her alpha. Compared to the piercing night vision of a cat descended, she was practically blinded by darkness. She looked at the bright golden flecks in Yamina's eyes that were mirroring the light of the moon and all the dull flickering of the party inside. She couldn't help but feel the slightest pang of envy. Her own heron vision afforded her no such advantage.

But after several more minutes of looking around even Elila could tell that they were basically alone. She could see the movements of a few scattered couples lying in the thick softness of the lush green grass. But other then that, the entire space of the wide black patio belonged to them.

"So where were you?" Yamina asked annoyed by her friend's rather late arrival. Yamina had been at the party since its beginning several for long hours ago. And she had hated every stupid minute of it, virtually counting the seconds till a friendly face arrived. And given her tribal reputation, that hadn't happened until Elila walked through the Lodge doors.

"I stayed to watch the matches." Elila answered giving second thoughts to the idea of telling Yamina everything she had seen. She knew that it would only upset her friend. But she didn't want Yamina to be caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her rapist. Elila knew that chances were good that Yamina wouldn't run into any of the four-feared Midali. But Elila thought her friend had a right to know. If the roles were reversed, Elila knew she would most certainly want to know the truth.

"I saw them. They're here." Elila finally said noticing the strange expressions her friend was giving her.

"What do you mean?" Yamina asked worried that she knew all too clearly whom Elila was speaking of.

"I saw them. Pedryn and Carielle, they competed in the Gallion. They won…" Elila said adding the last part as a bit of an afterthought.

"Oh god…" Yamina said suddenly feeling like she couldn't breathe. Carielle was the shark that had attacked her. Carielle was the reason that she was afraid of the dark. Carielle was the cause of her never ending terror. And now Yamina knew that somewhere in the very village that she stood, her rapist walked around free. She could turn any corner and Carielle could be standing there. She could walk into a restaurant or board a transport and Carielle could be waiting.

And the worst thing was that no one would help her. No one knew what Carielle had done. So instead of the persecution of a criminal, Carielle enjoyed the freedom of a saint. And with all those panicked thoughts rushing through her mind, she really thought that she might faint. Frightened, she reached out a blind hand searching for the soothing presence of Elila. But Yamina never got the chance to turn to her friend for comfort. Because rushing in like a bold intrusion was a very inebriated Kellis.

"There you are. I've been looking for you." A very drunk feline warrior managed to wander up to the girls on the back patio.

"Congratulations!" Elila said happily trying to put thoughts of the sharks far from her mind. She cast a worried glance at Yamina who also seemed to be trying for a brave front. Yamina gave her a flat practiced smile and eyed the golden warrior wishing that Kellis would leave. She needed the reassurance of her friend. And Elila couldn't discuss what had happened in front of the warrior.

"Did you see me?" Kellis asked with an excited expression dancing through her warm yellow eyes. Kellis had never looked so young and innocent. She was literally swaying in her circles under the influence of her own enthusiasm.

"Yeah, you were great." Elila answered surprised to find the warrior suddenly lifting her up into two strong arms. It was an entirely pleasant sensation but the girl didn't want to get too excited by a purely friendly gesture.

"I didn't think we were going to win. But at the last minute we pulled it out. It was so hard though. I think I'm gonna be sore for weeks." The cat purred swinging the girl through the air in large lazy circles.

"Uhm, okay Kellis you can put me down now." Elila whimpered feeling a bit uncomfortable. It's not like she minded the display of affection, she just didn't know how to handle it. Especially since nearly every member of her tribe was peering at them through the large glass windows of the Lodge.

"But I don't wanna." Kellis answered nuzzling the young girls neck. The warrior was totally unaware of how inappropriate her actions were. All she knew was that Elila was so very soft and vulnerable in her arms.

"You're so pretty and you smell so good. I love you…" Kellis managed to slur out under the effect of all the intoxicating rollen berries she had ingested. Yamina stiffened hearing the words come from the warrior. But no one was as shocked as Elila. For a second she wanted to believe that Kellis meant the words she said. But the girl knew it was only the berries talking. At the moment, Kellis would probably have confessed her love to a tree or building.

"Okay, put me down." Elila said a bit more harshly. Things were definitely becoming more uncomfortable by the second. Especially now that Kellis would feel the need to apologize to her later for her drunken behavior. And the last thing Elila ever wanted to hear was an apology for an utterance of love. The girl wasn't sure her self-esteem could take a verbal blow like that.

"No, not until I do this…." Kellis pouted leaning in closer to the girl. The warrior pulled her mouth forward into a slobbering kiss. Her lips were wet and soft but her mouth tasted sour. Elila found herself gagging under the pressure. In all her fantasies she had never imagined kissing Kellis to be quite so repugnant.

"Kellis?" The warrior turned to face the questioning voice. Narlene stood there obviously very annoyed to find Elila wrapped up in the warrior's arms.

"Narli? Hi! Did you see me?" The warrior asked letting Elila drop down onto the floor with a rather unladylike thud. Elila sat there trying to control the whimper that wanted to come from her mouth. The marble tile had been quite hard against her rather fragile body.

"I sure did." Narlene answered using her best little girl voice. Without shame or courtesy Narlene walked up to the warrior doing her best to plant a sultry kiss on Kellis' drunken lips. Of course, given the current state of the warrior such an action came off a bit hindered and difficult. Elila knew it hadn't been the show of passion Narlene had been hoping for. But it was still more graceful and coordinated then the lip lock she had just shared with Kellis.

"I didn't think we would be able to pull it out at first but then.." Kellis' voice trailed off as she followed Narlene back into the party.

"Bye Elila!" Kellis suddenly called out not caring that she had left the girl in a lump on the floor. And without a backward glance at the girl who loves her, Kellis wandered away to enjoy the pert flirtatious company of Narlene.

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"Well, that certainly did suck." Elila muttered to the soft laughter of her friend.

"Come on…" Yamina said pulling the girl back onto her feet.

"What's the matter? Didn't expect the first kiss you shared with Kellis to go quite like that?" Yamina joked feeling a lot better after having heard the terrible news about the sharks.

"Very funny…" Elila muttered going to lean against the nearby stony wall. Yamina leaned next to her and the two friends fell into a companionable silence. They both were both quiet as they watched the swirling motions of the dancers inside. Everyone was stepping in perfect unison to rhythm that, on the outside, Elila could barely hear.

"That was pretty embarrassing…" Elila whispered even though Yamina was clearly the only other person in earshot.

"Hey, don't worry. By the time she sleeps this off, she's not even going to remember it." Yamina answered gently rubbing her friend's shoulder.

"And that's the real problem isn't it. I want her to…" Elila let her voice trail off not wanting to finish her own thought. It was too painful to say the words out load.

"Don't do this. You know how Kellis feels about you." Yamina said rather sternly. She didn't want to see Elila so down and dejected.

More then anything, Yamina wanted things to work out between her best friend and the warrior. Because if they didn't, Yamina didn't even want to think about what would happen. Elila's alpha needed an heir to throne. And if Kellis wouldn't marry the girl, Yamina knew there were plenty of others that would.

"Let's not talk about this. How are you?" Elila asked wanting to change the subject. Her status as a single female was becoming more painful by the day. In the swamp, things like marriage were far from being an issue. To the gamblers, dealers, and other social lowlifes found down in the bogs, marriage might as well be a four-letter word.

But here in the jungle, people were supposed to mate for life. It was a sacred tradition that was upheld by the highest degree of honor and respect. The problem was Elila wasn't so sure she really wanted anything to do with it. Of course, there was her relationship with Kellis. If the warrior ever asked her to marry, Elila knew it would take less then a single heartbeat for her to say yes. The warrior just had a way of making her want to be a wife and mother. A single touch from Kellis could send her blood pressure to dangerously high levels. And when the golden warrior looked her, really focusing on every single nuance of her body, Elila felt all her insides melt.

Yet Elila had a very difficult time thinking that happily ever after was something meant for her. As much as her fantasies protested, the girl knew the warrior's affections came only from platonic place. Sometimes it made her all weepy and distressed to think of it. Elila just knew there was something out there she would never have, but she did want it so very much.

Though Elila was generally content with her status as a single woman, her alpha was most vehemently not. Since her sibling had died, there was no one left to inherit the throne. And according to tribal law, an heir had to be named within the year. Or else, her alpha would have to abdicate. And Elila knew that she would be sold to the highest bidder, before Thash ever gave up the throne.

"What are you thinking?" Yamina asked noticing the pensive nature of her friend's thoughts.

"Nothing…we should mingle." Elila said walking towards the Lodge. Yamina agreed reluctantly following her friend to the door. There were times that both girls truly hated their obligations to the council.

Walking through the door was like entering a sound garden of the loud and obnoxious. The music seemed to have gotten louder. The people seemed to have become more intoxicate. In short, the celebration had definitely been kicked up a notch.

Unable to speak over all the noise, Yamina pulled her friend towards the nearest darkened wall. They both knew they should make an attempt to socialize but neither girls were very thrilled at the thought. As they practically hid the corner, Elila scanned the room for Kellis. She couldn't help it. No matter where she was, the girl seemed to always be looking for the warrior. But despite her wandering eyes, she couldn't seem to find Kellis.

They stayed for a few more moments taking in the movements of the dancers. A little while ago, everyone had seemed so coordinated and in sync. Now they were practically falling on each other. They way they were moving now; Elila figured that even she could fit in.

"Come on." Elila said to her friend, pulling Yamina onto the floor behind her. The dance floor was the last place Yamina wanted to be but she knew her friend was right. They at least had to give the appearance of enjoying the victory celebration.

And for a while they danced. Elila actually began to enjoy herself, even just a little. The music certainly wasn't something she preferred but it was tolerable as they all moved across the floor in leaping strides. Even Yamina seemed to be coming out of her rather timid shell, if only for a moment. Her blonde friend was even giggling as she tried to keep time with everyone else.

They had just really gotten into the rhythm of things when suddenly everything changed. The bright flashing strobes of the lights stopped. The room became nearly pitch dark. And the music went from a pounding frenzy to a soft melody of love. Elila and Yamina watched as all the dancers around them scurried into the arms of their dates and lovers. Having no one to turn to, the girls left the floor in search of their familiar dark corner.

"Good, the slow dances…" Yamina mumbled unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. Elila only smiled sharing her friend's opinion.

They watched in silence, as the swirling couples on the floor grew more amorous by the moment. Elila was content to simply watch, but what she saw next made her stomach drop. Kellis and Narlene were wrapped tightly in each other's arms swaying back and forth to the soft music. Not wanting to speak, she tapped Yamina and pointed to the couple on the floor.

"She's just drunk, she doesn't know what she's doing." Yamina whispered trying to calm her friend.

Elila knew Yamina was right, but it still hurt. Narlene certainly hadn't been the kindest person to her. The beautiful jungle cat was a traditionalist. Narlene felt Elila's very presence was an abomination to all the laws of the jungle. And the girl certainly took every opportunity available to point out Elila's mixed parentage.

"Narlene is just doing her thing. Don't let it bother you." Yamina whispered feeling her friend's body grow icy and rigid.

Elila looked on wondering what it would be like to be wrapped up in the warrior's arms. Normally she would let herself indulge in such a fantasy, but not tonight. It wasn't just the pain at seeing her own worst enemy holding onto the warrior that she loved. It was something else, something dark and anxious.

The girl wasn't sure but she suspected it had something to do with seeing Pedryn and the other sharks tonight. Since the Gallion, Elila had been nothing but unsettled. She supposed that watching one's rapist succeed in battle would do that anyone. But the girl didn't know how to fix things. Elila had this strange need to run away, she just didn't know where too.

"Okay, let's go." Yamina whispered pulling Elila from her thoughts. She looked up from her thoughtful reverie to see Narlene doing her very best to seduce the golden warrior. It was a sight that should have her made her want to scream. But for some reason Elila looked on with a quiet acceptance.

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"It's okay, we don't have to go." Elila answered feeling herself suddenly very distant from the romantic affection of the couple on the floor. The girl felt the calm mood sweep over her and Elila knew what had caused the sudden change.

"I think I'm getting over her." Elila said with a clear conviction in her tone that even shocked her. Yamina only stared at her friend convinced that Elila was putting on a brave front.

"Elila, it's okay. Come on, we'll just go." Yamina prodded trying once again to spare her friend's feelings.

"If you want. But I'm serious. I think I finally realize that it's just never going to happen for us." Elila said walking from the Lodge back out into the warm night air. Yamina followed truly glad to be away from the celebration.

"I know how you feel. You don't have to say these things for my benefit." Yamina said to her friend's turned back. Elila was hovering on the patio taking in the moonlit view of the park across the way.

"I'm not denying how I feel. I'm just saying that, for the first time, I want to move on. I don't want to have such strong feelings for someone who doesn't feel that way for me." Elila answered finally turning around to face her friend. Yamina could tell that her friend actually believed what she was saying. Elila seemed calm, logical and even relieved by her own admission.

"But have you even given it a chance? I mean have you really tried with her? You guys even shared a bed last night. Did that go anywhere?" Yamina asked trying to be delicate. Her friend only laughed at the memory of last night's restless encounters.

"We shared a bed because my parents engineered a scenario where we had to. There were no more available rooms. You know that. We weren't together because Kellis wanted to be near me. We were together because we got in so late, even Kellis didn't have time to find anyone else to sleep with." Elila explained thinking that if they had arrived at the Lodge only hours earlier, Kellis could have found many other beds to warm besides her own.

"Stop that! You know Kellis cares about you." Yamina said thinking that her friend was too emotional to read the situation correctly.

"Yes, she does, but as a friend. And it's time I accepted that and moved on." Elila answered with a certain amount of resolution that even Yamina could feel.

"Move on? You know how your parents feel." Yamina said knowing that at any moment Elila's nuptials could be decided for her.

"My parents…. They really do like Kellis. But if the thought of ruling the tribe isn't incentive enough to make Kellis interested in me. Then nothing is." Elila sighed wincing at her own statement. There really was a certain amount of inherent sadness in her situation. She had the largest dowry of any woman in the village. Her mate would rule the entire tribe. And yet she remained alone, all because her mother came from the swamp.

"I just think you should give this time. You know how Kellis is." Yamina said sensing that her friend had really reached the end of her patience.

"Yes, I do. And that's the problem." Elila answered hopping up onto the banister that ran the length of the patio. She stared up into the night sky wondering if her destiny was written in the stars. If it were there, she would give nearly anything to know what her future held. Because despite her fondest wishes, she didn't see herself in the arms of the golden jungle cat.

"Talk to her." Yamina whispered coming over to sit near her friend. Elila was about to tell her all the reasons why that was an infinitely bad idea when she saw the most interesting thing. Narlene came bursting out of the Lodge doors bawling hysterically. She didn't even see them as she ran past in a smattering of tears. And Elila watched as she disappeared into the thick darkness of the distance.

"I wonder what that was about." Elila muttered to her friend also riveted by the recent scene.

"You should go find out." Yamina said pushing Elila towards the Lodge.

"What?" Elila whispered thinking that she really didn't want any part of whatever had gone wrong between Narlene and Kellis.

"Think about it? Narlene comes out here exploding in tears. Makes you wonder what Kellis said or did to cause such a scene. Maybe the warrior told her she wasn't interested." Yamina whispered hoping that she was right about the unfolding of events. Nothing could make her more pleased then to hear that the warrior had turned down Narlene, for a chance with Elila.

Elila wanted to say no. And on some level she knew she should stay right where she was. But her curiosity was getting the better of her. So with a heart full of false hope, Elila went inside searching for the golden cat.

She passed several warriors that she recognized. Some gave her a polite nod and smile. Others simply ignored her, choosing to stride past like she didn't even exist. The celebration in the main hall was basically done. Only a few passed out partygoers remained slumping on the floor in great big piles of inebriation. As she walked through the bulding, it didn't take her long to find out where the celebration had moved too.

She heard the sound of voices and laughter coming from the spa level below. She didn't want to intrude. She suspected it would be quite an intimate scene. But she heard so many different people, she couldn't imagine that whatever was going could be a private affair.

Tentatively, she walked down the marble steps to the floor below. The steam from the hot tubs greeted her before she even passed into the room. It only took her a few more feet to see that all four of the hot tubs were brimming with people. And from the clothing scattered all over the floor, she could only assume that something rather inappropriate was going on.

She walked around the edge of the room trying not to be noticed amidst the thick steam and watery air. It surprised her to see so many people from her tribe lounging in the boiling tubs. Jungle cats weren't exactly known for their love of water.

Her eyes scanned the room looking for Kellis amidst the naked flush of wet bodies. This was one time she was definitely grateful for her swamp ancestry. Her physiology was more suited to the thick, steamy, humid environment then the cats. She had no trouble seeing all the celebrators through the thick clouds of steam. She saw several women that she knew shouldn't be there. They were single, young, and expected to marry well. And an episode like this could certainly tarnish any young girl's reputation. After several more moments of searching, her heart beat in pure relief when she realized Kellis wasn't in the room.

But she saw did see the hall to the sauna. And she could hear the slight rumble of voices from the other end of the room. Slowly and quietly, she walked into the darkened hall hoping to remain unnoticed by the people in the hot tubs.

Tentatively, she walked to the door and swung it open trying not to make a sound. It only took mere seconds for her eyes to adjust to the pouring steam of the room. But what she saw would take her years to forget.

On the only wooden bench in the room, was a woman kneeling on all fours. At first, Elila didn't know who she was. But she could instantly tell from her platinum locks that she was most likely a jungle cat. Then she moved her hair to the side and Elila gazed on her face. Her name was Zelsi. And she was concubine.

And the warrior, heavily sexing her from behind was Kellis. The warrior and her lover seemed lost in their own world. Elila could tell that her presence hadn't been detected. They couldn't see her through the steam. And they were both too drunk to sense her otherwise.

Unable to withstand the image any longer, Elila ran from the room trying not to loose control of her welling feelings. It was one thing to know about Kellis' promiscuity. It was quite another to witness it first hand.

She practically ran past the hot tubs not caring that she had most certainly been seen. She didn't care. The sight that she had just witnessed could not possibly have been more repugnant in any way. And for the first time in her life, Elila really felt for Narlene.

The girl ran up the steps trying to find Yamina and put as much distance as possible between herself and the warrior below. She couldn't understand why Kellis was with a concubine. Even her mind had trouble rolling over the term. In the swamp, such women were graced with no such title of difference. They were called prostitutes. And the whole thing made Elila sick.

"What happened?" Yamina called from the patio seeing Elila dart by. Elila ran outside trying to catch her breath. She could have gone her whole life without knowing that Kellis had occasion to pay for her sexual pleasure.

"I saw Kellis in the sauna." Elila whimpered trying desperately to hold onto her tears. Even though she knew she was ready to move on, she wasn't ready to turn a blind eye to such displays. She was still too attached to the warrior.

"What did you see?" Yamina asked not sure that she really needed to hear the answer. The expression was written all over her friend's face.

"She was having sex with Zelsi." Elila muttered looking out in the lawn for any sign of Narlene. For the briefest of moments, she had the sudden desire to commiserate.

"Zelsi? The concubine? Why? Why would she do such a thing?" Yamina asked knowing that in a logical world Kellis would never have to pay for such company. She could think of multitudes of women that would grace the warrior with their affections for free.

"Yeah, I know. Doesn't make much sense. But I can't be here anymore." Elila said stomping off the patio into the surrounding darkness.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Yamina asked trying to catch up to her friend. Elila really thought about her friend's statement. And for the first time, Elila knew with crystal clarity where it was she desperately needed to run to.

"I'm going home." Elila said cryptically, stomping away from the safe grounds of the Lodge. Yamina only watched as her friend gradually disappeared into the night. She didn't know what Elila meant but she suspected her friend wanted to be alone. Besides, Yamina didn't feel comfortable leaving the grounds so she decided not to follow. Yamina tried to tell herself that Elila would be all right, all alone in the Gallion village. But she had no idea who was waiting for her friend, just beyond the light of the moon.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 4

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Elila walked off the Lodge grounds trying to stifle her desperate need to run. She didn't want to move too fast. She knew it would attract suspicion. But she certainly didn't want to move too slow, god forbid anyone stop her escape.

Where Elila was going was a place that no jungle cat would dare follow her. She was going to someplace familiar and comfortable. She was going to find someway to get back to the swamp.

She had no intention of disregarding her duty to her tribe. Elila knew she couldn't just get on the first transport back the marshes. She was a part of the tribal council now. And her rather unrewarding title and station came with many duties she'd rather not perform.

But for the moment, she was in the midst of the Gallion village. She knew her people. And she knew how much this sporting event meant to all the gamblers back in the bog. Somewhere in this village the swamp-dwellers were gathering. And Elila had every intention of finding them. Considering the large size of the village, it helped that she knew just where to start her search.

Elila saw the last transport of the night, loading in front of the Lodge. Briefly, she reconsidered her action. If she left the Lodge now, she wouldn't be able to come back until the morning transport. She would be stranded wherever her journey took her. But at the moment, she didn't care about such silly details like distance. All she wanted was to be far from Kellis and her concubine.

She boarded the transport hoping not to be recognized. And for once it appeared that luck was on her side. There wasn't a single familiar face on the entire hoverport.

The driver closed the doors and they zipped off at top speeds. There was something about flying over the very tops of trees that still thrilled Elila. Every time she got on a hoverport she felt like a little girl all over again. It was exhilarating the way the long transport rushed through the air with such speed and grace.

And from her aerial view she could take in all the many celebrations of the village below. They passed over a tribe of cheetahs dancing and singing on a nearby rooftop. They saw a tribe of jaguars already fighting amongst themselves. They even witnessed a horse tribe racing through the village streets at what could only be described as dangerous speeds.

Through it all the hoverport made frequent stops letting passengers disembark to their native tribe. And Elila had every intention of doing the very same thing. She just had to find them first.

They cruised over the village passing many celebrations of loud boisterous cheer and thundering goodwill. And in the midst of a village brimming with people, they even saw a few couples trying to share an intimate moment. Elila was beginning to think her search was proving futile. The hoverport had taken her a long distance and she still hadn't seen anything that vaguely resembled swamp life. Everything was just so bright, loud and fiery. She knew her people wouldn't be found in that kind of hustling environment.

Finally the hoverport came to an area of the village that caught her attention. The buildings were dark, except for the slight flash of a subtle strobe light. There were no bonfires lining the streets with celebrators vigorously rejoicing. Everything seemed murky, quiet, and even a little dangerous.

Quickly, Elila hit the nearest stop button. She knew that if she were going to find anyone from the swamp she would have to get off now. The hoverport stopped and she rushed forward ready to jump off, only to be stopped by the driver.

"Hey, you don't want to get off here. This is a bad place to be. Especially for someone who looks like you. Let me take you further down the line." The driver said holding her arm out to stop Elila's departure. The girl looked her over taking in the changeling's features. She wasn't sure of the exact lineage but Elila thought that perhaps the driver hailed from a raccoon or squirrel tribe.

"Thank you for your concern but I really need to get off here." Elila said in her most courteous tribal council voice.

"Hey, whatever you want girly. I'm just saying." The driver said without turning to give her a farewell glance. And without another word between them, Elila left the safety of the hoverport.

After she disembarked, Elila stood on the seemingly quiet street for several minutes. She just wanted to get her bearings. Everything seemed silent and still around her. But she knew it was just an allusion, her kind always preferred to stay hidden. All she had to do now was perceive the motion in a dark wash of camouflage.

And it only took her a mere second to find it. Not more then a few feet to her left, was a small group of reptiles milling about on the street. They were nearly perfectly blended in with the tall black towering building behind them. Even the building itself seemed to have been camouflaged. It was nearly the seamless color of night.

Walking towards the reptiles she could see the faint flicker of lights coming from the building behind. It was a common tactic used in the swamp. Most casinos and nightclubs darkened their windows so no one on the outside could peer in. It was mostly done to maintain a semblance of privacy and thwart the efforts of law enforcement.

"You going here?" Elila turned to see that one of the snake warrior's had addressed her.

"Uhm, yes." Elila replied realizing that she wasn't really dressed correctly. Her knee length shoulder strapped lavender dress wasn't exactly appropriate attire for a night in the unseemly part of town.

But if the reptile noticed her rather formal appearance, she said nothing. Instead she kindly walked Elila to the nearly invisible entrance of the nightclub.

Once inside Elila couldn't contain her excitement at once again, being amongst the familiar. The first floor was covered in wall-to-wall inch thick red carpeting. There was a bar constructed of cool stone slab jutting out from one corner. The music was soft and soothing and the lights were dimmed. No one even looked at her as she walked across the floor. And for the first time since she returned to the jungle cats, Elila was actually at a place where she truly fit in.

But the girl had one thing on her mind. A definite change in appearance was in immediate order. Quickly, she headed up the nearest stone staircase looking for a bathroom. On her way she passed by snakes, crocodiles, and amphibians of all kinds. Elila was especially delighted to see a small group of heron wandering out onto the dance floor.

Her entrance to the bathroom was coupled with immediate coughs and wheezes for breath. There was a small lounge attached to the stalls, sinks, and mirrors that made up the restroom. And here, a small group of amphibian woman had gathered to smoke their choice of narcotics.

It took her a few moments to adjust to the toxic air. But eventually she recognized the scented herbs and spices being smoked in the air around her. It wasn't an unpleasant aroma, it was simply overpowering. She stood in front of the nearest mirror pulling her hair down around her face. Elila ran her fingers through her long black locks creating an image of disarray and general unkempt. She wanted the exact opposite of her normal pristine appearance to please her Fasara parents. And after a few more moments of teasing, she decided there was no way she could possibly make her hair any more tangled.

"You want?" Elila looked behind her to find that one of the other women had called out to her. The woman was holding out a long rolled paper filled with intoxicating drugs.

"No thanks..." Elila replied wandering into the nearest available stall. It's not that she had a moral dilemma against the use of drugs. Her grandparents had supported themselves for years working in the drug trade. In the swamp, narcotics were simply a way of life. They were something for consenting adults to use with caution. And personally, she just chose not to partake.

Once she was safely locked away in the long narrow stall, Elila set about altering her appearance. The first thing to go was the button down lavender blouse that helped create the soft look of the dress. Once it was gone there was only the thinnest wisp of purple material covering her bra. Her skirt was the next to be dissected. She grabbed the soft fabric in several places trying to rip the cloth. But she just didn't posses the strength. Willing to try anything, she ran the fabric against a rusty nail on the back of the door. Finally it ripped allowing her to create long slits and free room for her legs to move.

She looked her appearance over one more time before leaving the quiet stall. Her midriff was totally bare revealing the long expanses of her pure white skin. Most of her legs were now visible. And Elila knew that her alpha would lock her away for a solid month if she had been caught looking like this at home.

But Elila didn't care about that. Her parents weren't here and she was determined to have a good time. Leaving the remains of her shredded clothes in the nearest trashcan, Elila wandered out to join the rest of the party.

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On the second floor she found a more seductive display of dancing. And it was exactly what she wanted. Wandering into a large open room she found another bar, a small lounge area, and a wide-open dance floor.

Elila sat at the bar for several minutes just absorbing the people writhing to the rhythm. It was just how she liked it. The music was dark, filling her ears with a familiar primal beat that her body instantly recognized. She watched the snake women moving about on the floor. They could create such strange and wonderours dances. There bodies were so limber and fluid it was simply a site to behold.

But once she heard the beginnings of a song that she recognized, Elila decided to join the dancers. She fell into an easy cadence moving with the ebb and flow of the brimming floor. Her hair flew out around her as she created a spiraling circle with her own body. Her hips rocked with the pulsing beat of the music around her. And there could be no question to her beckoning movements. Elila was graced with the raw sexuality of the humid swamp.

She knew they were staring at her. People always watched when she moved to the music. There were very few things in her life that Elila felt accomplished at. The erotic motions of dance happened to be one of them.

But the girl didn't know whose eyes were trained solely on the movements of her body. She didn't know that someone had taken special interest in her from the second she had walked in the door. Elila didn't know that she had carelessly thrown herself right in the midst of danger. Because lurking across the room in the darkened shadows of the cool stone wall, was a shark warrior.

From her point of hidden vantage, Pedryn stared at the girl sliding through the tempo of the music. Elila was coming apart with an unbridled passion. And it was making the shark very uncomfortable.

Pedryn couldn't take her eyes of the girl's seductive and sometimes even sultry movements. Her hair was tumbling down her body in long waves of pure midnight. Her eyes were flashing and her soft pink lips were swollen. The shark let her eyes travel the length of the girl's scantily covered body. Her skin was creamy and white. Pedryn couldn't help but remember how soft it felt under her hands. Or how delicious it had tasted under her teeth.

Looking at her turning body, the shark couldn't even find a trace of her attack on the girl's slight form. Pedryn couldn't find the slightest trace of a scar on the entire expanse of Elila's revealed skin. It seemed strange; Pedryn knew exactly how many times she had given the girl her bite.

Pedryn couldn't stop the feeling of disappointment that welled up within her. It's not like she wanted to leave the girl with a permanent reminder of their harrowing time in the water. She just couldn't help but feel bit territorial when it came to Elila.

"What are you staring at?" Carielle asked her, sloshing her drink in her hands. Pedryn looked down at her cousin in disgust. She hated being intoxicated, especially since the incident. Pedryn couldn't understand how Carielle could still enjoy the taste of rollen berries, considering everything that had happened.

"Look." Pedryn said quietly pointing to Elila's writhing form. Carielle had to squint to take in the dancer from their distance. Her normally keen senses were already suffering the effects of the intoxicating berries.

"Oh my god!" Carielle squeaked surprised by the appearance of the girl dancing around before them.

"Lower your voice." Pedryn whispered looking at her cousin's muddled state. Pedryn knew that Carielle was generally considered one of the more attractive warriors in the tribe. But she suspected that if anyone saw her cousin tonight, they would be sorely disappointed. Carielle's long blonde hair was filled with dirt and grime. Her normally perfect gray pallor was smeared in mud streaks. Her blue eyes were unfocused and hazy. And her mouth seemed unable to stop drooling.

"Sorry… Is that Elila?" Carielle whispered carelessly falling against Pedryn's stronger and taller body.

"Yes." Pedryn answered watching as an attractive snake warrior slithered her way up to the dancing girl.

"What's she doing here?" Carielle whispered to her cousin's rigidly stiff form.

"What does it look like?" Pedryn responded hating to have pointless conversations with the inebriated. Carielle watched for a few moments as the girl allowed the snake to wrap her body up in a heated embrace.

"Shouldn't she be at the Lodge with the other cats doing whatever the hell boring thing it is that cats do." Carielle mumbled becoming a bit alarmed at the chords of tension running through her cousin's body. Even in her drunken state she could tell that Pedryn was growing upset. And the last thing she wanted was to see Pedryn get angry in the small confines of a darkened bar.

"Come on, let's go." Carielle said trying to climb onto her unsteady feet. But despite her less then tactful prods, Pedryn hadn't moved.

"Pedryn!" She called out loudly and exasperated. But the shark still didn't answer. Pedryn was far more concerned with Elila's movements against the snake. She really didn't know why Elila was here. She figured that the girl would be safely tucked away for the night with some big strong jungle cat to stand guard over her sleeping form.

She couldn't imagine that Thash would be so ridiculously stupid to let her own daughter wander through the streets of the village without an escort. Pedryn had intimate knowledge of all the tribal enemies the jungle cats had made. Their recent peace treaty was new and untested. The Midali had little hope of actually making it work. And considering that Elila had already been kidnapped once, Pedryn couldn't imagine that steps hadn't been taken to prevent it from occurring again.

Not only that, but the shark didn't mistake the significance of the girl's creamy bared throat. There was no broach indicating her union to another. Elila hadn't been married off yet and the reasoning behind it stumped the shark. Pedryn knew that Thash desperately needed an heir. She just couldn't imagine why Elila wasn't at home safely locked away in the arms of a loving jungle mate.

"PEDRYN!" Carielle practically screamed worried by the intense focus of her cousin's gaze, especially since it was directed at Elila.

"Fine, we'll go!" Pedryn hissed under her breath angry that her cousin had attracted such attention to them. The shark supported her cousins wavering form as they walked from the darkened bar. But Pedryn couldn't leave without one last look at the girl who haunted every single one of her dreams.

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"Is something wrong?" The snake whispered in her ear. Elila stepped away from the firm body of her recent dance partner.

"I thought I saw someone I knew. It doesn't matter… I need a drink." Elila answered wandering over to the bar. It was the strangest thing; Elila could swear she had seen Pedryn staring at her through the crowd. But she knew her mind was only playing tricks on her.

"What'll you have?" A lizard changeling called to her from the other side of the bar.

"Just water please." Elila answered feeling dehydrated from her rather vigorous workout on the floor.

"Rollen juice, straight up." The snake ordered, taking the seat next to her own.

"Hard drink." Elila mused knowing that few changelings could handle the effects of straight rollen berries.

"Mmh, well I play hard." The snake idled inching her body closer to Elila's.

"What's your name?" Elila asked almost finding the question ridiculous. She had just let the warrior touch in a smattering of nearly intimate ways. It seemed almost comical to make small talk now.

"Licara… And yours?" The snake asked swirling the thick red juice in her crystal glass.

"Elila…" She answered enjoying the playful flirting between them. If felt nice to have someone look at her with kindness. And it felt great to have someone express a more then platonic interest in her. And as the snake leaned closer to her heated body, Elila just couldn't be sure where this night would end.

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"So my dear, how is that we've never crossed paths before?" The snake whispered in her ear, carefully brushing the young maiden with her tongue. Elila gasped at the exquisite sensation. She had never felt anything quite like it. She felt her breath catch in her throat and heart leap in her chest. She knew that snake changelings had forked tongues. She knew that they could move them in rapid vibrating strokes. But never before in her life had she felt such a perfect touch.

"Did you like that?" The snake whispered letting her tongue wander down to the nape of Elila's bared throat. The girl felt hypnotized by the pleasure. She couldn't have moved even if she wanted to. It seemed like the long wet tongue was caressing every single nerve ending in her entire body.

"Imagine what it feels like in other places." Licara whispered using her hand to emphasize her point. Gently, she trailed it up Elila's thigh trying to point out just where it was that she would like to lick the girl.

But reality finally set in and Elila stopped the snake's wandering hand. Despite her anger at Kellis she wasn't about to bed the first changeling that showed her any interest. That's not what Elila wanted for herself. In a way she still considered herself a virgin. Besides being raped, she had never felt a sexual touch. And she knew it was important to her parents and the prospects of any future marriage contract, that she remain celibate.

Yet, she couldn't help but give Licara a penetrating glance. The snake was certainly graced with beauty. Her hair was short, cut high above her shoulders. It was the perfect color of coral. Her eyes were an enchanting hypnotizing red. Her body was lean but very firm. And her soft pink lips concealed the jagged fangs of a pure snake ancestry. And Licara was tall. Not too tall, just tall enough to make Elila feel safe against her wider body.

"I feel that I should tell you that despite your obvious charms and beauty, I don't have sex with virtual strangers." Elila whispered, trying her best to be diplomatic. She didn't let go of the snake's hand though. Licara's flesh felt so very delicious against her own. It was cold but firm, she could practically feel it slither against her own. And for the briefest of seconds Elila had to outright deny her rising need to bed the changeling. Elila just couldn't think of a more intoxicating lover then lying in the arms of a snake.

"I can respect that. You're certainly not swamp trash." The snake relented carefully removing her hand. Licara looked disappointed for a moment but apparently decided that Elila was worth the attempt at genuine conversation.

"So, Elila? Where do hail from?" The snake asked downing another glass of straight rollen juice. Elila gave the question a brief thought. But she had no desire to explain her mixed parentage.

"I'm from the Orari tribe. We live over in Black Moon Swamp." Elila answered thrilled for once to not have to claim her jungle cat lineage.

"Black Moon, that's certainly the heart of everything dark and dirty." Licara replied obviously familiar with the stretch of land that Elila liked to call home.

"It has its moments… What about you? Licara is a forest name isn't it?" Elila asked laughing gently at the description of her home.

"Yes, it is. It's a rain forest name actually. I'm from the Ahloria tribe over in Greenery Basin." The snake answered cautiously staring into the girl's eyes. She wandered if the girl would be able to put the information together. She wandered if Elila realized what she was sitting next to.

"The Ahloria? That's a cobra tribe isn't it???" Elila answered suddenly feeling the effects of adrenaline rush through her body. Elila didn't know how she could have been so stupid. The cobra is one of the most lethal forms of changelings to ever walk the planet. They were also the only tribe that refused to officially join the kingdom or obey any of the laws of the land.

Instead, they stayed on the outside attacking the few unlucky unfortunates that happened to fall through the cracks. Despite all the many dangers lurking about in the swamp her grandparents had only ever cautioned her away from one thing, cobras. Their tribe frequented the marshes just like any other social outcast. Normally they remained innocuous, enjoying the free flow of narcotics and raw sex that Black Moon freely offered.

But there was one thing that could make a cobra give into its most basic need for violence. And unfortunately for Elila, that thing was her own heron blood. Oh, cobras notoriously liked all types of fowl descendants. But they had a special taste for the heron. There was just something about their white creamy flesh that made the snakes get in touch with their more primitive nature.

Elila knew first hand how terrible an ill-fated encounter with a cobra could be. Her cousin, Gandry, had suffered excruciating agony at the hands of an Ahloria warrior. For as long as she could remember, Gandry and her parents had lived in the swamp. Elila loved it there having her grandparents, cousin, and aunt all living so close by.

At the time it happened, Gandry was only 13. She was a few years older then Elila and had made it her personal responsibility to look out for the girl who was so new the swamp. Well one day after waiting for nearly an hour, for the first time Elila had to walk home from school all alone.

She rushed home screaming for her grandparents to find Gandry. But they assured her that everything was fine. In the swamp a woman of 13 was considered old enough to do just about anything. They assured her that her cousin was just down in the bogs enjoying a bit of mischief and play.

But Gandry never made it home that night. It took them nearly 3 days to find her. She had been left in the outskirts of Black Moon, almost beyond the very reach of the swamp. Thankfully she was alive, but barely. A cobra had bitten her. The bite itself wasn't fatal or even that severe. It was the venom that the snake had injected into her soft young heron body.

There was just something addictive to the snakes. There was something almost enchanting about sinking their teeth into the white flesh of a heron. And when they had their fangs firmly embedded in the tender skin, they have to release their venom. They adore the sensation. Elila had even heard that the very act of injecting venom, gave the cobra a better 'high' then all the drugs in the entire swamp. And it was that moment of spellbinding pleasure that caused the cobra to hunt the heron.

And now Elila was sitting dangerously close to what could only be described as her mortal enemy. The snake stared at her widening her large red eyes and flashing her a dangerous smile. Elila looked around the bar wondering if there was anyway she could escape or find someone to help her. But the snake clamped a firm hand down around her wrist forcing her to remain perfectly still.

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"Going so soon?" Licara whispered leaning close to the girl. Elila couldn't believe how very foolish she had been. In her haste to flee her jungle companions she had thrown herself right in front of very real mortal danger.

"What do you want from me?" Elila whimpered desperately searching for a way out of her perilous situation.

"Oh, I think you know heron." The snake replied choosing to finally forego the use of her name. Elila supposed it made it sense. After all to Licara she wasn't really a person. She was just a nameless fowl.

"Now, I had hoped to do things nicely. The bite hurts so much less when given in the throws of passion. And the venom is that much more potent." The snake explained slamming her drink down onto the counter.

Elila looked around again trying to find someone to help her. But the more her eyes peered into the shadows the more danger she saw. The place was literally crawling with cobras. She couldn't believe that she had missed it. She wasn't normally this painfully unaware.

"Mmh, I hypnotized you. I had to do something to keep you from noticing what I really was." Licara idled seeing the sudden realization cross the girl's features.

"I had hoped to leave rather peacefully. But your not all heron are you?" Licara whispered smiling proudly at her discovery.

"No, you're not. Herons can't resist our eyes. That's how we lure them in. But you resisted me. You're not pure at all!" The snake said, looking down at the girl's lap where her hand at rested only moment ago. Elila closed her eyes realizing that for the very first time in her life she was thankful for the jungle cat blood that ran through her veins.

"You're right. I'm impure. I'm not what you want." Elila said hoping to give the snake reason to leave her alone. But her efforts were proving futile. The snake only laughed, once more showing off her large vulgar fangs.

"Now, now Elila… Don't go selling yourself short. I'm sure you'll be just as tasty as a pureblooded heron. But I have to admit I am curious? What is mixed with your blood that could make you so terribly uncomfortable? I saw how you looked when I asked where you were from. You didn't want to tell me. So, what are you hiding my dear? Was your mother a swamp rat? Was your alpha something dreadful like a skunk or a possum? Tell me Elila, what is your secret shame?" The snake rambled obviously enjoying the art of toying with one's prey.

"My alpha is a jungle cat." Elila answered seeing no real reason not too. She looked around the room noticing that the small group of heron's she had scene before seemed to have vanished right into thin air.

"Jungle cat? Mmmh, I've never had one of those before." The snake whispered leaning closer to her bared neck. Elila tried to brace herself against the bar but she knew there was really no way she was ever going to defend herself against the strong limber snake.

"Ohh, there it is. Right there, just beneath the smell of fear. It's faint but very mammalian. So what is it? Lion? Panther? Perhaps even cheetah?" The snake idled feeling that it was good manners to at least get to know one's victim before striking.

"Tiger." Elila answered wishing that at this very moment she was surrounded by hordes of jungle cats. She couldn't get over how her mind had been so easily bended. Looking around the room now, she could tell the herons had obviously been herded together and removed for some sort of ill-fated purpose.

"Where are they?" Elila asked wondering if she would at least be with her own kind when she felt the venom.

"Who?" The snake asked looking around the room at all her Ahloria tribe mates.

"The herons? The ones that were here earlier… Were did you take them?" Elila asked wondering if her fate would be the same.

"Oh them… You saw them when you first came in? Well, we wanted to take them away sooner. You see we had a delicious evening planned. But the sharks were here and they almost ruined everything." Licara explained visibly pouting during her explanation.

"Sharks?" Elila asked. She remembered earlier in the evening when she thought she had seen Pedryn through the smoky dance floor. She thought her mind had only been playing tricks on her, but now she wasn't so sure.

"Yeah, some of their warriors were here and they nearly spoiled all of our fun." Licara answered licking her sharp venom filled fangs.

"Who? Which sharks?" Elila asked suddenly more interested in the location of her rapist. It really made no sense. She was about to die in the hands of snake. Pedryn should be the furthest person from her mind.

"I don't know. They all look the same to me. They're all so tall and brawny with those big teeth. They think they're so great. They don't like us very much. That's why we didn't attack the herons when they were here. They'll use any excuse possible to start something with us." Licara explained. And for the first time Elila began to hear the effects of the rollen juice on the snake. Her speech was beginning to slur and her sentences weren't as crisp or focused as before.

"What are you going to do with me?" Elila asked wondering if there was anyway her life could be spared.

"I'm going to bite you. What do you think?" The snake asked laughing. Elila tried to stop her tears from falling. She didn't want to seem so weak. But she couldn't help but reflect on the very supreme unfairness of life. She had already been through so much. And all she wanted was to be happy. But now she was going to die before she ever had that chance.

"Oh, don't look so sad." The snake cried out rather gleeful over her apparent sorrow. Elila felt her stomach lurch when Licara wrapped an arm around her back. She pulled the girl close gently nuzzling her hair.

"You know you probably won't die. As long as I remember to inject you with the anti-venom serum you'll be just fine. Well, you might be paralyzed or have permanent brain damage but…. Hey? You're a good kid. Even if you do die I'm sure the afterlife will be very kind to you." The snake managed to stutter out through choppy words of intoxication.

Elila tried not to openly weep. She wasn't ready to give up yet. She had survived 6 hours in the deep night waters of the ocean with a frenzied shark. She could survive this; she just had to think of someway out.

"Now you stay here and don't move. Or else I'll break your legs. I'm gonna go get us a room." The snake threatened stumbling away from the bar. Elila looked at the staircase in the corner and suddenly knew all too well where it led. There must be a cobra nest upstairs. And she was about to become their newest victim.

"But I can't! GOD!" Elila looked up to see Licara arguing with another cobra changeling. She couldn't hear the entire conversation. But from what she could tell, things weren't going in Licara's favor.

"Come on! We're leaving!" Licara screamed at her, pulling Elila away from the bar.

"Where are we going?" Elila cried out struggling against the painful grip the snake had put her arm in. She was a bit relieved to find the snake dragging her down the stairs and towards the building's exit.

"I can't believe them! After everything I've been through, they have the nerve to do this to me!" Licara screamed hauling Elila to the heavy double doors of the building. With the stumbling effort it took for the snake to move, Elila realized the rollen berries were having their maximum effect. If she was going to get away, now was the time to try.

"The alpha has never forgiven me! And I've earned their respect. I've earned my place in the tribe! But they won't let me have it!!!" Licara continued to scream into the night air. Elila body's was barely clear of the steal black metal door when Licara slammed it shut.

The snake walked down the deserted village road pulling Elila by her long black hair. The girl stumbled and tripped trying to keep up with the quick pace. But then Elila felt something interesting fall beneath her feet. The very pavement of the road was cracked. There was dust and debris filing under the soles of her shoes.

Knowing that this was her only chance she purposely entangled her legs with the snake. Instantly Licara hit the ground putting a rather viper like hold on the girl. She obviously wasn't about to let her prey get away that easy.

"Nice try…But I'll just have you here." The snake whispered leaning forward to go in for the bite. But Elila reacted quicker. She took a handful of sharp dusty debris and threw it in the sensitive eyes of her captor. Instantly, she felt the strong arms drop from her sides. And then Elila sprang away, determined to flee for her life.

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Elila didn't make it far though. The snake recovered much too quickly. Before she knew it Elila was knocked right back down onto the ground. She tried to scream for help but found that her lungs were devoid of air. She was coughing and wheezing struggling to catch her breath as she felt Licara slither onto her back.

"That's it my little bird. Try to take nice deep breath… The venom goes in so much quicker." The snake whispered. Elila winced hearing the sounds of clearer tones and crisper words coming from the creature above her. The hybrid had nearly recovered from the effect of the rollen juice. And Elila knew she was running out of time.

The snake spread out on top of her, cruelly forcing her face down into the dirty debris of the pavement. Licara ran her hands up and down the length of Elila's back, enjoying the feel of her prey. When the girl somehow found the strength and energy to struggle, the snake lashed out. Roughly, Licara clasped her stronger hand down onto Elila's wrist. The sheer force of the contact led the girl to believe that surely her bone had snapped right in two.

"Now be a good kitty and let me have your throat. It's the best place for the venom you know." Licara said laughing madly at her own words. Futilely, Elila screamed trying to attract attention to her dangerous predicament. But it was no use. The street was empty. And she was alone with the cobra. She tried to thrash and lash out with her limbs. But Licara had firmly trapped to the ground.

But then Elila remembered the word that the cobra had called her. Licara had referred to her as 'kitty.' Oh, the girl knew the snake had only been toying with her. But to Elila the reference was important. She was half jungle cat. Somewhere in the folds of her heron like body beat the heart of predator. She just had to find it.

All jungle cat changelings had one thing in common, their saber teeth. The women that descended from a pure cat lineage also had sharp teeth, but nothing like their hybrid brethren. But it wasn't the razor sharp teeth that interested Elila. It was the fact that all cats, both hybrids and women, could crush an absurd amount of weight with the sheer strength of their jaws. And somewhere in the tiny chromosomes of her DNA, Elila hoped that she too had that ability.

Summoning all of her fear and pulling on her sheer will to survive; Elila moved her mouth close to Licara's hand. The girl realized that she couldn't feel her wrist and she began to fear the worst. But she couldn't think of such minor details like broken bones. At the moment, she had her very life to preserve.

Once she was close enough, she bit into the leathery skin of the snake. It surprised her how easy her teeth slipped into the flesh. And the feeling of power that came with the bite simply amazed her. Elila wasn't certain, but she thought she might even have heard a faint growl come from the very back of her throat.

Instantly, Licara pulled away. It wasn't for long, but it was all the time that Elila needed. This time when she climbed to her feet she bolted at the near speed of light. She had never run this fast in her life and could only attribute her cat-like speed to the intense fear running through her blood stream.

"It's to be a hunt then, is it Elila?" The snake called into the deserted air around her. She didn't hurry after the girl. She didn't need to. She could easily smell the girl's trail. And Licara was far from disappointed at the sudden turn of events. It had been a long time since anyone had really put up a struggle. And hunting a worthy prey was always worthwhile sport.

Deftly, she climbed to her feet checking the size of the wound in her wrist. She was glad to see that Elila had managed to miss her artery. But the wound was severe nonetheless. The girl had taken a large portion of skin and managed to crush several very useful muscles. She tried moving her fingers and instantly the suffered the waves of crashing pain. Despite the profuse bleeding, she held her wrist against her shirt determined to move on with the hunt. Looking down though, she had to admit that she was surprised. The girl really did have some cat in her after all.

Elila cautiously ran down the alleys of what appeared to be abandoned buildings. She couldn't be sure though. She didn't have the time to really stop and focus on them. The entire alley could be crawling with camouflaged amphibians and cloaked reptiles.

She tried to slow her breathing and calm herself. Elila was far from naïve. She knew that the more frightened and distressed she was the better chance Licara would have of finding her. She realized her body had to be emitting all the familiar smells of a frightened prey.

Holding her hand over her mouth, she tried to stop the gagging sound that was trying to come out. She knew she couldn't make a sound. The snake would be on her in an instant if she gave into the noise of her pain. As soon as her blood circulated back through her arm she realized just how damaged her wrist was. She wouldn't be surprised if it had broken in more then one place.

"Oh, Elila??? Don't you want to come out and play? I can smell you here. Oh, are you going to hide from me?" Licara called out feeling her body return to a sober state of awareness.

Elila controlled her need to scream out in terror. Instead, she darted behind the first pile of trash she saw in the alley. Thankfully, she realized what a good decision it had been. The smell of the garbage would surely mask the odor of her fear.

"Elila, E-L-I-L-A…. It's a bit of an unusual name isn't it? Did your mother name you after something dreadful found only in the swamp?" The snake asked carefully walking up and down the alley. She knew the girl had only been there moments before, but now the trail had gone cold. But she was convinced that Elila hadn't managed to leave the alley. There was only one way out and the girl certainly hadn't run past her.

"Mmmh, did you know that venom turns a heron blue? When you think about it Elila the whole thing is really quite poetic. I have the power to revert you to the coloring of your very ancestors. The whole thing is really beautiful. Your black hair will turn the color of a deep sad blue and your lips will swell to the most exquisite shade of sapphire. Even your white flesh will turn the color of sky." The snake rambled for no other reason then to keep her prey intimidated. Licara had worked her way to the end of the alley and had decided that she would actually have to start sifting through the trash. The girl had to be hiding somewhere amidst all the piles of dirty debris.

Elila listened in her concealed spot behind a towering pile of rubbish. From the sounds of the snake, Elila knew that Licara was only mere feet from where she hid. She glanced at the end of the alley knowing the only way to escape would be to announce her presence and make a run for it. But Elila knew that was a horrid idea. She could never outrun the snake.

Cautiously, she backed up against the abandoned building and felt the oddest thing pressing into her back. She turned around and saw the outline of a metal ladder. She took a closer look at the building realizing that it was constructed of old Earth materials like brick and mortar. There wasn't a trace of the more secure and stable plastic and titanium used to construct building today. But if she was right about the building's origin, that meant only one thing. The outline she saw was definately a ladder and she might just be able to use it to escape.

Silently, she stood touching the ladder with only the very tips of her fingers. Thankfully, it didn't make a sound. And under the light of the moonlit sky, it even appeared to be sound. She knew the climb would be difficult with only one good hand. But she had to try. She wasn't going to give up.

"Although, who knows what color you'll turn. I'm mean; you're not of pure blood are you? Perhaps, you get blue strips like the half-breed you really are." Licara called out cruelly. She was growing tired of her searching. Her fangs were literally lurching with the need to release venom.

But Elila just climbed, as quietly as she possibly could. She knew that under the night sky, against a shadowy building, and with her long black hair flowing down around her she should be able to stay hidden for at least a few more rungs. With each successful step she mentally congratulated herself for simply having the courage to live.

Yet, she knew she wasn't scared anymore. Sure the cobra stalking the alley below was a force to be reckoned with. But now, she was more angry then anything else. She had thought Licara was going to be her friend and maybe even more. But instead, the snake had hypnotized her and she felt more betrayed then anything else.

"Elila you're really starting to make me angry. Do you really want to feel my anger?" The snaked hissed stomping back down through the alley. And that's when she saw the heron, futilely trying to pull herself atop a building with only one arm to guide her.

"Oh, Elila… So resourceful." The snake whispered taking a flying leap onto the bottom of the ladder. The girl balked in sudden terror realizing just how quickly the snake was going to catch up to her. Using her fear as a motivation for strength, she pulled herself over the side of the building.

But when she put her two shaky feet on the solid cement roof of the old abandoned building she realized her newest problem. Now there was no place left to go. She broke into a sprint running to the other side of the roof. But when she got there, she looked down in horror. There was no other ladder. She scanned the rooftop feeling herself succumb to defeat. Because for Elila, there was no way down.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 5

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"You know it's a common myth, that snakes can't climb steps. But look at me! I'm an excellent climber." Licara called out vaulting herself over the top of the ladder. Even with only one good wrist she had managed to climb the ladder in record time.

She stared at Elila with wide looming red eyes. The snake was thrilled to have finally captured her prey. And now that she had the girl, there was no reason to rush things.

"You know that I'm going to kill you now? Don't you?" The snake hissed, slowly approaching Elila's position. She was taking her steps one at a time. She was inching closer to the girl wanting to extend the moment as long as possible.

"I had wanted to play nice. You are such a yummy creature." The cobra called out slowly moving closer to Elila's waiting body.

Nervously the girl glanced around trying to find any way out. But there was nothing. Her only escape would be a four-story drop onto the pavement below. If she wasn't so afraid of heights she might try it. It would be nice to ruin the end of the hunt for the slithering snake.

"But you aren't going to hold this against me are you? My need to kill you is really only natural. After all, I am a cobra." Licara said unable to keep her swelling fangs in the confines her mouth. They were large and gleaming and Elila winced when she saw the venom trickling down their sides.

Yet, their hunt was far from over. Somewhere in the distant quiet of the night, a godly being was looking out for the girl. Because when Elila tried to back up moving just a fraction more away from her impending death, she nearly tripped. She felt the most glorious thing brush against her ankle. It was a loose brick. The wonderful old building was coming apart at its very seems. And Elila was suddenly given a renewed hope.

"Forgive me?" The snaked joked moving within striking distance. The sides of Licara's neck rippled with thick chords of muscles as the snake moved in for the kill.

But the girl was quicker. Elila mimicked a rather convincing natural fall onto the ground. The snake did as she suspected. Licara fell onto her body, covering it with her own. In her haste to acquire her prey, the snake missed the girl reaching for the brick.

"It's been so nice knowing you Elila." Licara whispered wriggling her neck back to go in for the kill.

But the first strike was Elila's. She swung the brick, using every single last drop of strength that her female body possessed. And luckily, it was more then enough. The brick even made a slight clanging sound when it collided with Licara's tender skull. Her red eyes rolled up in the back of her head and she fell over to the ground, soundly knocked unconscious.

Elila stood, clinging to the brick with her one good hand. She wasn't a predator. She couldn't kill Licara even though she knew the snake would never have showed her such mercy.

Hastily she fled the rooftop not sure how long she really had. As she moved down the ladder she worried that at any moment Licara would wake. She tripped and slid her way down the steel ladder hitting the alley ground with a less then graceful thud. Despite her injury and pain, she knew that she had to go on. With as much speed as her body capable, she ran back to the dark labyrinth of streets that made up the most dangerous place in the entire village.

She became overwhelmed with the severity of it all. Her mind briefly darted back to the moment when she had chosen to board the transport. She had no idea at the time that she was very nearly signing her own death warrant.

And now, she simply had no idea what to do. She wanted to find the nearest, smallest, darkest hiding place and crawl right inside. She didn't want to come out until the bright light of the sun had chased the cobras away. But she knew that wasn't how it worked. The snakes could just as easily hunt her during the light day as during the dark of night. Besides, she knew it was many long lengthy hours before the next transport came. She couldn't stand still waiting for Licara to close on her position. The snake could come to at any moment.

But there wasn't only Licara to think of. She was wounded prey in a village of predators. She had to find sanctuary soon or she would never survive to see the next sunrise.

She knew it was sheer impossibility to even think of making it back to the Lodge on foot. She tried to remember every tribe they had passed on the way over. She wanted to find an ally to either the jungle or swamp. She needed to find someone that would give her shelter from the cobras.

But as her mind went over all the different celebrations she had witnessed, she couldn't recall a single tribe that could be considered an ally. Then she thought of the horses. They were running so wild and free only hours before. Their races seemed long and easy indicating a wide territory for their tribe to dwell in. And the best part was horses weren't known for aggressive or violent behavior. She was reasonably certain that they would help her.

She took off in the direction that she had seen them racing. She hoped their territory wasn't far. Elila wasn't sure how much further she could go. Her very fear was weakening her, not to mention the pain shooting through her arm.

She ran, hobbled and even crawled her way through the darkened streets of the city. She wouldn't give up. She wouldn't even stop to catch her breath despite the caged pounding of her heart. She had to keep going. Every single inch that she put between herself and Licara was infinitely important.

After what seemed like a near eternity, Elila heard the soft chuckling of voices in the distance. She wanted to scream for help but her throat was so scratchy and dry. And they sounded like they were moving away from her. She couldn't let them leave. If they were horses she would never catch up to them.

"H-H-HELP!" Elila managed to gasp out before she fell flat onto her face.

There were many hybrids that heard her shrieking cry. Less then a mile away, on the sandy beach of the Gallion Ocean three shark warriors looked around for the origin of the noise. Less then several feet away, two horse hybrids came rushing to the young maiden's aid. But unfortunately, deep in the recesses of a dark alley a snake changeling grinned in satisfaction.

"Is she all right?" The one horse asked the other. The one reached down to check for a pulse while the other went to retrieve water.

"What's she doing out here all alone? It isn't safe." The other horse asked retrieving a bottle of water from a tan saddlebag.

"I don't know. She's alive…" The other whispered pouring the clear fluid down Elila's parched and cracked lips.

Elila swallowed down the fluid feeling a state of awareness return. Her body was dehydrated but the water wasn't enough. She needed more. But more importantly, she knew that she needed to run.

"Help me?" Elila asked the horses clinging to the one by the long mane of her silver hair.

"What happened to you?" The hybrid asked gently removing the girl's hands. She didn't want to be rude but the girl was putting a near death grip on her hair.

"I'm being hunted. Please?" She asked hoping that they would help her get away.

"Hunted?" The silvery horse asked cocking her head to the side listening to the noise all around her.

But it was the other horse that perceived the danger first. Elila had forgotten one important thing about horses. There was nothing that frightened then more then the mere sight of a snake. But the girl had been naively hopeful. She wanted to believe that they would aid her out of the decency of their tribes' highly acclaimed gentle heart.

"It's a snake, we have to go." The other horse whispered sensing the presence of Licara moving ever closer. Elila saw the two horses dart to their feet obviously ready to take off .

"Wait! Please?" Elila begged while kneeling dejectedly on the ground.

"Sorry, we just can't." The one horse whispered before taking off in a lightning sprint.

"You should go, it will be here soon!" The silvery horse whispered before taking off after her companion.

Elila fell to the ground horrified by her abandonment. She knew she couldn't go on. There was no place to go. And there was no one who could help her. Despite everything she had just been through, it looked like Licara really was going to win in the end.

But a part of her wasn't ready to give up so easily. She realized her fatal flaw in coming to find the horses. She didn't need someone who would run away with her. She needed a stronger predator. She needed someone who wasn't afraid of the cobra.

Instantly, she knew just where to go. After all, there really was only one choice. So Elila climbed to her feet heading off once more into the darkened night. Except this time, she was going to the one place she never imagined. Because the very last people Elila ever thought she would turn to for help, were the sharks…

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Elila took off for the distant beach knowing that there was a very slim chance she would actually make it. If the snake was close enough for the horses to have sensed her, Elila knew that Licara was closing in on her very position. So instead of sticking to the more apparent safety of the paved road, Elila wandered off into the forest hoping to throw Licara off.

The heron knew there was a very slim chance of that. Snakes were excellent hunters. And going into the woods may actually work more to Licara's advantage. But Elila had to take that chance.

Moving into the darkened cover of the trees Elila tried desperately to keep moving despite her pained exhaustion. She knew she was moving in the general direction of the beach. But she didn't know how much further her journey would take.

In the quiet of the forest, her mind began to think all those thoughts that occur when one suddenly faces their own mortality. Elila began to feel cheated, like there was so much left that she could accomplish if only she survived. She also began to wonder how those she left behind would react. She knew Yamina would suffer greatly. Elila was more like her sister then simply a friend. She wondered if her parents would wish they could have treated her more kindly. She wondered if Kellis would regret never sharing an intimate moment with her.

But Elila knew she couldn't think of these things. For no other reason then the fact that she simply didn't want to. Her legs struggled to leap over rotted tree roots. Her arms valiantly tried to ward off the thorny brush of sharp branches and jagged bushes. Her heart pounded relentlessly, feeding blood to her struggling body. Yet, as she fought for her very life Elila realized that she had never felt more alive.

All of her senses were heightened. Her mind seemed sharper and more acute. But beyond all that Elila discovered that deep within, she had a passionate will to live.

"ELILA!!!" The girl froze in place hearing her name screamed across the very top of the forest canopy.

"ELILA!!! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!" Elila recognized the voice of Licara mocking her from a distance. She had two options. She could stay and try to find a place to hide. Or she could make a run for the beach hoping to reach the Midali before the snaked reached her.

Elila knew there was really only one good decision to make. She couldn't hide from the snake, not in her condition. She knew her scent was too easy to track. She had to run and she had to move quickly.

Leaping over a log, she landed hard on her knees knocking the air about in fatigued lungs. She forced herself to stand trying to catch her breath. But now she had sharp shooting pains lacing through her ribs. Elila clutched her hand to her stomach trying to keep going but she just couldn't breath. Even a slow walk was causing brutal agony to shoot through her chest.

But she kept going. First she moved at a slow crawl. Then she moved onto to walking. Finally, she felt her body recover enough to the point that she could handle a gentle jog.

Yet, there was one thing bothering her. She hadn't heard the snake taunt her in a good long while. A quiet Licara was more frightening then the chattering one. She nervously glanced behind her knowing she would really never see the snake. It was a futile move but one she felt compelled to do.

And then she noticed the most wonderful thing; the trees were thinning. She looked up and once again saw the clear black of the night sky. The forest was ending. She knew she had to be close to the beach.

Finding a sudden reserve of strength and energy she didn't know she had, Elila sprinted through the forest moving at the top speeds her body would allow. She surprised herself with her own grace and agility as she moved up and around the trees and branches that stood in her way. She could only attribute her sudden physical prowess to the adrenaline pouring into her blood stream.

Then she nearly cried in relief when she actually saw the sandy beach stretched out before her. She had made it. The only problem was, it hadn't been fast enough.

As she tried to take the few more steps necessary to reach safety, Licara easily dropped from a tree with the ease of a panther. Elila froze seeing the snake stand between her and the beach. She had the sudden need to collapse in tears. It wasn't fair. She had struggled and fought to get her. It was sheer mental will that had carried her this far.

But apparently none of that mattered. The snake had easily overcome her speed and found the perfect place to wait for her. And from the looks of Licara's well-rested form, she had been waiting for quite some time.

"Why?" Elila gasped out shaking her head in contempt.

"Why didn't I kill you when I obviously passed you by?" Licara asked clucking her tongue in obvious amusement.

"Because what would be the fun in that? I wanted to see your face when I closed in on you mere feet from your escape." Licara said finally moving closer to her prey.

"Although I must confess. I don't understand why you came here. I mean the only people out here are the sharks." Licara said easily jumping over a rather high log.

"Unless you have some sort of death wish. You know, in case I didn't catch up to you there would be someone else around to finish the job." Licara said crossing her arms over her chest seizing the girl up.

"I must say Elila I didn't expect such a stimulating hunt from you. Herons are normally such weak prey. It was quite a nice surprise." She said delighted to watch the sorrow and disappointment cover the girl's features.

And then the oddest thing happened. Elila sensed something out in the distance. Oh, Elila knew she wasn't psychic by any stretch of the imagination. But there was one thing she could always perceive. Perhaps, it was simply an overactive and acute sense of danger. But Elila always knew when there was a shark around. Ever since her attack, she had been quite hypersensitive to their presence.

As she looked around the forest she didn't see anything. But she knew there was one somewhere nearby. If only she could attract it's attention before Licara killed her.

And as she studied the log that the snake had just vaulted over, she saw her only answer. It wasn't steady or stable in the least. She could easily now see why the snake had chosen to jump over it. It looked like it was ready to go tumbling away at the slighted provocation. Even though Elila knew it was a long shot at best, she was willing to try anything.

"How did you find me so quickly?" Elila asked deftly moving towards then around the snake. Licara didn't seem too concerned with her movements. She was far more interested in explaining her hunting prowess.

"Well, it was pretty easy actually. You left quite a pungent scent trail to follow." Licara said happy to stroke her own ego. Elila moved her back up against the log feeling it rustle with her weight.

"Although, I have to ask you something. Why didn't you kill me when you had a chance? Up on the rooftop? No one would have blamed you for ending the life of an evil cobra." Licara said knowing that no one in the entire kingdom would have blamed Elila for such an action.

"I'm not a killer Licara." Elila answered running her hands up and down the log as nonchalantly as possible. Delighted, she felt it move as she touched it.

"So you would rather die then go on living with my blood on your hands?" Licara asked quite shocked at the girl's reasoning.

At first Elila didn't answer. And then when she did, it wasn't the vocal response the snake had been waiting for. Swiftly Elila ducked under the log before Licara even knew what had happened.

Once she was on the other side she rammed it with every ounce of strength left in her tired and bruised body. It rolled easily giving into her demands. And Licara was caught quite off guard.

At first, she saw no reason to be concerned. She stood her ground expecting to deflect the log with her own bodily strength. But as it rolled she literally heard the impact it was carrying. Too late, Licara realized that she had to turn away. And by then the log had already collided with her form.

And it was all the time that Elila needed to run out onto the beach. She heard the whispered curses of the snake knowing that Licara would be on her in mere moments. Elila ran screaming at the very top of her lungs for help. She rounded the last tree seeing the dark waters of the ocean stretch out before her. She screamed, one last blood curdling time before the snake pounded into her body from behind.

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Roughly, Licara flipped the girl over thrilled to finally have Elila in her clutches. The snake was most disappointed to find that her rather forcible contact had knocked the girl into unconsciousness.

It was far more fun to kill them when they were alive and awake. The cobra liked nothing better than to stare in their eyes before her final strike. She liked to remember how they looked before she sunk her venom deep in their body. She liked to remember what they said and how they begged for mercy. But most of all, Licara liked to remember the feel of their bodies struggling against her own.

But Elila had taken away all her most favorite things about the kill. Of course, the girl had given her a rather exciting and invigorating hunt. Yet, this ending seemed so terribly anticlimactic.

Licara was lying atop the young maiden's unconscious form. She was studying her prey with an intimacy that the hunt didn't normally afford. Almost tenderly, she ran her leathery fingers up and down the girl's limbs. She kept glancing at her eyes hoping to see them flutter open and grow wide with alarm. The snake couldn't help it. She wanted to know Elila's fear one last time before she killed her.

Unfortunately for Licara it seemed like fate was conspiring against her. Not only was Elila still terribly unresponsive but she was also hearing the strangest noises. Somewhere in the distance she heard the sound of voices gathering. They were moving closer to her at a rapid speed that even she couldn't match.

Resting her head on the sandy beach she listened to the vibrations of the hybrids coming her way. They were less then a mile away now and coming towards her from the somewhere along the coastline. Licara strived to hear the cadence of their walk. She listened to the tones of their voices. And then with a horrific utterance, she realized that it was sharks moving towards her in the dead of night.

Glancing down towards the dark water she knew that at any moment they would be visible to her. The Midali were always known for their speed. And as she looked down at Elila she knew she had a terrible problem.

Licara couldn't kill the girl now without giving herself away. Once she bit into the heron, the ecstasy of the venom would carry her for hours. She would be incapable of rational thought and totally unable to defend herself. And in that kind of inebriated condition, she knew that the sharks would easily tear her to shreds.

She could leave now before the sharks felt her presence. Looking down at Elila she knew the girl would be easy enough to move. The heron certainly didn't weigh much. But if Elila came to and started screaming, she would easily attract the unwanted attention of the Midali.

Licara felt like screaming a long litany of curses. But she knew she just couldn't take that chance. She only had mere moments to move ahead of the sharks. If they sensed her in the distance, Licara knew she would never be able to outrun them.

Hovering above the unconscious girl, she gave Elila a few more disappointed stares before darting back into the forest. The hunt had certainly been a disappointing one. And her mouth was filling with the bitter taste of stale venom. Not only that, but she hated the thought of someone else taking her prey. But tonight, it would seem she had no choice in the matter. Slipping quietly back through the trees, Licara ran off at a fast but silent pace.

It took them only moments to find her body. They had heard the weakened beat of her heart from literally miles away. But now that the sharks had gathered around her broken and wounded form, they really didn't quite know what to do with Elila.

"It's a bird. What do we do with it?" The smaller shark asked the taller one.

"I don't know." It responded leaning down to take a more careful look at the girl.

"Oh, for god sakes Zeranna don't touch it." The smaller more annoyed shark quipped in an angry voice.

"But look, she's hurt. We can't leave her out here." Zeranna answered running a careful hand across the deformed appearance of the heron's wrist.

"Why not? What else are we supposed to do with it?" The smaller shark quipped with a persistent annoyance.

"Surely, you can't even be that cruel. It's the middle of the night. And she's out here all alone. We have to take her back with us." Zeranna replied feeling sympathy for the injured heron lying helplessly on their beach.

"Why? It's a bird. Not our responsibility." The smaller shark snapped beginning to walk back to the water.

"Our tribe did sign a peace treaty, remember? We're supposed to play nice with everyone else now." Zeranna answered easily lifting the heron into her stronger arms.

"That is nothing more then a ridiculous piece of paper. The kingdom can try all it wants. But nothing will ever domesticate us." The small shark snarled heading into the water.

"Are you coming?" She asked feeling the surf rise to her knees.

"No, I'll have to walk. I'm bringing her." Zeranna answered beginning the long journey back down the coastline.

"You aren't serious? The alpha is going to extremely displeased. You know how Pedryn feels about these things." The smaller shark called out wading in the dark ocean waters.

"Yes, I know. Just go… I just need to do this okay?" Zeranna answered knowing that this little incident would be all over the tribe by morning. She hated being known as the 'weakling.' She didn't think she was physically weak at all. She just seemed to lack the same predatory viciousness that all the other Midali readily possessed.

Zeranna was used to the ruthless teasing. It all stemmed from the same place. She was the only shark in her tribe not interested in the hunt. She didn't even seem to succumb to the bloodlust or feeding frenzy. There were just so many other things that were important to her. And looking down at the frail heron wrapped up in her arms, she knew this incident would cause a whole new string of ridicules. But Zeranna felt she had to help the girl in spite of that.

The shark carried the heron for over 7 miles. It was a trip that took a considerable amount of time. She could have run much faster. But the girl already looked so injured Zeranna didn't want to risk further injury by jostling her about.

But even under the thick blanket of night, Zeranna had no trouble finding her way back to the Fluid. She shuffled up the unfamiliar wooden steps of the land entrance. She couldn't help but glance at the large structure with a newfound curiosity.

The Fluid seemed so tall from the beach. It surprised Zeranna that she had never noticed before. But she had always entered through the ocean, swimming up through the channels that filled most of the building with water. But now she had a heron in her arms. And she was going to see a whole new dry side to her tribe's accommodations.

Walking through the large dark opaque doors of the building, she wasn't terribly surprised to see two familiar people waiting. Jaura had obviously returned some time ago. And she had apparently rushed right off to tell everyone about the heron.

"See, I told you." Jaura mocked still wet from her recent travel in the ocean.

"Let me see her." Zeranna was relieved when one of the tribe's healers come forward to take the heron from her arms.

"You aren't seriously going to help her are you?" Jaura snapped upset that no one else saw how ridiculous the whole situation was.

"We do have a peace treaty this was negotiated under suspicious terms at best. If this girl dies here with our tribe, the kingdom will demand answers. There will be an investigation and repercussions. And since we just ended a war with the Fasara, I think it would be in our best interest to find a way to maintain the peace." The healer reasoned gently examining Elila's neck.

"Yes, we ended the war with the jungle cats. This thing is obviously from the swamp. I highly doubt if anyone will care if she just disappears." Jaura called out unnerved and angry by her tribe's sudden desire to play by the rules. She missed the old days when the Midali were separate from the rest of kingdom. She missed the supremacy that her tribe used to wield. But above all else, she missed the savagery of an unlawful and immoral hunt.

"Can you help her?" Zeranna timidly asked approaching the healer's side.

"I'm not sure. I don't know anything about heron physiology. But I'll try my best." The healer said lifting the girl away into the white confines of the dry level medical bay.

"This is ridiculous! I'm getting Pedryn. You both will be very sorry!" Jaura screamed storming down the ramp that led to the Fluid's wet floors.

Zeranna just watched her go hoping that Jaura was wrong. She hated to see creatures injured and suffering. Zeranna knew that was essentially what divided her from the rest of her tribe. It was her kind and gentle heart that the rest of the sharks found so very intolerable.

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Carefully lying the girl down on the only solid piece of furniture in the room, the healer began to examine her body. It was most unfortunate for Elila that she was of mixed fowl and mammalian heritage. The Midali really only had the medical equipment to treat other water dwellers.

"Is there anything I can do?" Zeranna asked glancing at the towering form of the treatmant tank. But she knew the heron wouldn't survive its healing waters. If they were going to treat the broken girl, they would have to find a way to do it on dry land.

"No, there isn't. I'm not sure that there's anything that I can do." The healer confessed noting the appearance of broken bones and deep bruises.

"I'm just not sure how to revive her." The healer answered looking back down at the heron's skull checking for injuries.

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She was lying perfectly still on the very bottom of her dream chamber. It was quite an amazing feat, even for her. Her kind could never remain still, not in the water. They moved constantly keeping their bodies awake and alive. They craved the sensation of the water rushing over their skin. It was old habitat, one left over from a time of gills and fins. But most shark changelings had never grown completely accustomed to the stillness of land.

And Pedryn was normally no exception. But tonight was different. Her mind was troubled and unfocused. Seeing Elila had affected her more then she would care to admit, even to herself. With the dawn still hours away, she knew it was far too early to sleep. Unable to concentrate on the mundane routine tasks that being Alpha demanded, she retreated to her dream chamber. She had done so for the sole purpose of meditation.

It was a habit that she just couldn't seem to give up; despite the feelings of foreignness that now plagued her. Meditation was the tool of a warrior. It was used to ready the mind for battle. It prepared the body to use its strength and flexibility. It brought her entire being into one melded machine.

But now it was something that felt terribly strange to her. There was a time when mediation was something necessary to her. She learned it from her master and honed her skills. She practiced until she could turn her mind into a blank open vessel awaiting the knowledge of the universe. But that had been when she was warrior. That had been before Elila.

After she gave into her own savage needs, Pedryn knew she wasn't the same. She felt her own animal nature seize control of her body and mind. And she never even tried to stop it. For once, it felt good to giver herself over to the basic need of the shark.

Her entire life had changed after that day in the water. She stopped adhering to the rules of honor, trust, and honesty. She under went a virtual metamorphoses of regression. She became ruthless and cruel giving into to her basic desire to dominate.

And she had thought her change was complete. Not once did she let her guilt, regret, or anguish creep through to her soul. She shrouded herself in a cold steel air of indifference unable to even let mercy slip through the cracks.

But despite her attempts to remain distant and unfeeling she couldn't control her dreams. And at night when she slept, her dreams were filled with Elila's cries. She would hear the girl beg for mercy. She would see the small heron's terror when she felt her body fall into the murky deep of the ocean. She could feel Elila's futile kicks and struggles. And after all this time, she could still taste Elila's blood.

Suddenly, the lights came up in her watery tank indicating that someone was outside waiting for her. Begrudgingly, Pedryn climbed out of her dream chamber throwing on the nearest robe to cover to her naked silvery body. But when she finally opened her door she couldn't be more displeased to see Jaura waiting.

"What?" She hissed suppressing her urge to slam the door in the young shark's face.

"We have a problem." She stammered putting her clenched little fists on her waist.

"What kind of problem do we have?" Pedryn asked unable to keep the mocking tones from her voice.

"Zeranna brought a stray back. They are down stairs right now trying to help her." Jaura practically screamed totally unaware of how annoying Pedryn found her. Jaura expected some reaction from the Alpha but got none. Instead the leader of her tribe was just standing there like she had no intention of doing anything.

"She picked up some dying bird on the beach. And who knows what swamp she crawled out of. But they have her up stairs right now in our medical bay." Jaura cried out rather exasperated from her tirade.

"What kind of bird?" Pedryn asked with a soft tone of fear cresting her normally crisp voice.

"I don't know all those swamp things look the same to me. She's all dark… Maybe a heron or something…" Jaura said uninterested in Elila's exact heritage.

Pedryn stared at Jaura for several seconds simply digesting the information. Then she did the one thing that she had wanted to all along, she slammed the door in Jaura's face. Not waiting for her own thoughts to catch up with her actions, she began dressing in a hurried pace. Because unless Jaura had been mistaken, someone was expecting her. And the last thing Pedryn wanted was to keep young Elila waiting.

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"Baysha? I think she's staring to wake up." Zeranna called out watching the heron squirm all over the exam table. The healer rushed over wandering if the small girl really was starting to recover.

"You're right, I think she's starting to wake up." The healer said unable to take any credit for the sudden healing.

"Can you hear us? Can you tell me your name?" Baysha asked gently lifting the girl's eyelids. Her pupils seemed dilated. But the healer honestly didn't know if that was normal or not for a heron.

"You're going to be okay. You're safe now." Zeranna said in a soft friendly tone to the girl. Zeranna didn't know what had all had happened to the young heron. But judging from her condition she had been through some kind of ordeal.

"Where am I?" Elila managed to whisper out through her desert dry mouth. Zeranna smiled taking the heron's willingness to communicate as a good sign.

"You're at the Fluid." Baysha replied softly hoping the information didn't frighten the girl. Most people cut the Midali a rather wide berth for obvious predatory reasons.

"Can you open your eyes?" The healer asked concerned by the girl's condition. Elila was lying flat on her back with one arm draped across her eyes.

"Oh god, it hurts…" Elila whimpered out in a desperate cry of anguish. Neither the healer nor Zeranna knew what to do.

"Your eyes hurt?" Baysha asked worried that the heron had suffered some sort of head trauma.

"No, my wrist. Oh god…" Elila gasped out realizing that it was the pain that had eventually woken her.

"I think it's broken. But I don't know how to set it. I've never worked on a bird before." Baysha replied suddenly feeling impotent as a caregiver.

"Oh my.. I can't…" Elila gasped out through her pain feeling it increase by the second. She began to desperately wish for unconsciousness.

"I don't know what to give you for the pain. I don't know what your body can take." Baysha whispered wondering if Elila would be able to tell her what to do. But from the looks of it, even if the girl did have such medical knowledge the pain would render it useless. She was crying now, and the sharks could tell she was suffering horribly.

And lurking right outside the door, Pedryn finally realized what she had to do. There was really no more choice in the matter. Slipping into the room she went to the nearest medical table grabbing the necessary dart.

"Alpha, I didn't see you there." Zeranna called out to her, finally seeing her approaching form.

"I'm glad you're here. I don't know what to do for her." Baysha said hoping that Pedryn might know the appropriate way to treat a heron.

Through all their greetings Elila had slipped into the darkened corners of her mind. She couldn't stand the pain and consciousness was sheer unbridled torture. She needed a quick release in desperate ways.

If it hadn't been for the agony, she might have noticed Pedryn enter the room. She might have guessed at the true intentions of her rapist. She may even have felt the weight of their gruesome and terrible shared secret.

But she didn't. And neither did the other two sharks until it was too late. Before anyone had a chance to react she slipped the lethal dart into Elila's neck quickly sending the girl off into the darkened void of nothingness.

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"Pedryn, what have you done?" The healer said quickly backing away from the table. Zeranna looked at the girl who was once more unconscious. She didn't know what to do. But Zeranna suspected that something very unfortunate was about to happen.

"LEAVE!" Pedryn commanded the healer who rushed out of the room. Zeranna was quickly following. She knew that disobeying the Alpha could be punishable by death.

"Zeranna?" The Alpha called out stopping her retreat. The young shark turned around sensing pure malice pouring off her tribal leader.

"What happened to her?" Pedryn asked softly examining the body of the girl.

"I don't know Alpha. She was like that when I found her." The shark answered wondering why Pedryn seemed to be cataloging the girl's injuries.

"Fine… Wake my cousin Carielle. She should be sober by now. Tell her I require her assistance." Pedryn directed to the shark that quickly left the room. Zeranna felt overwhelmed by guilt as she left the girl behind. She sensed the heron's life was in grave danger but she had done nothing about it. She had been too fearful of Pedryn. But deep down there was a part of her that knew it was best to just go along with the Alpha. Anyone who opposed her always suffered the direst consequences.

Once Zeranna left the room the Alpha rounded the girl in quick circles. She was looking at her from the mind of healer. She knew the girl's physiology better then anyone else in the tribe. And looking at the cuts, bruises and broken bones she couldn't help but wonder what had befallen her Elila.

She cupped the girl's wrist in her larger stronger hand feeling the break of the tender calcium bones. Lucky for the girl, it appeared that most of her skeletal structure came from her jungle cat heritage. Pedryn knew that pure bird bones were quite easy to break and took nearly forever to heal.

Gently, she popped the bones back into place. She was concerned by the tender make-up of the heron's hand. She had never seen anything quite so fragile. Her own body was made up of a thick cartilage skeleton impervious to the breaks and fractures that Elila had suffered.

Pedryn had finished setting the bones on her wrist and hand with relative ease. From that point, she moved onto her less severe injuries checking the bruises and cleaning the cuts. She had worked her way up and down both sides of Elila's body before she finally realized what she was doing. She was touching Elila. Her hands were brushing across the girl's skin. And Pedryn couldn't help but think that nothing good could come of it.

She stepped away from the table and tried to stare at the heron with an unfeeling hard eye. But she found it just wasn't possible. She could never be neutral or cold where Elila was concerned. The girl had affected her far too much for such a false display of iciness.

But when she stared at her, Pedryn didn't know what to think or feel. Even with dirt and grime covering her body she looked just as beautiful as the shark remembered. Looking her over, Pedryn couldn't quite remember what it was exactly that had made her snap. Elila was certainly attractive, but it wasn't just that. There was something else that had spoken to her. Pedryn loved the girl's weakness, she had found it intoxicating.

Until Elila, she had only been with other sharks. And when sharks mate, it could hardly be described as an act of love or even passion. When sharks come together in the crashing waves of sexual need the result is always dominance, brutality and even savagery. And Pedryn had always accepted it as the way of her people.

On that night, when she had thrown the young heron into the water everything had been so very different. The brutality had gone leaving something strange and inexperienced in its place. Pedryn couldn't release the full magnitude of her predatory instincts on the girl. Instead, she found her animal nature responding to Elila in ways she didn't even know were possible.

But even though the act had been tame, muted and at times even tender, Pedryn knew that to Elila it must have been nothing short of an exercise in pain. The heron didn't have the body for such things. If only Pedryn had known the sheer fragility of calcium bones she would have handled the girl more carefully. If only she had known how small and incapable the lungs of a mammal were, she would have helped the girl stay afloat. If only she had known how weak and tender Elila's body was, she would never have slammed into it over and over again. But at the time, Pedryn didn't know anything about the young girl.

But now she did. Pedryn prided herself on being thorough. And her study of Elila had been no exception. She wanted to know absolutely everything about the heron's life. She wanted to know whom her friends were and what she liked to do. She wanted to know her daily routines and her favorite foods. She even wanted to know how Elila adjusted after that night in the water. But above all else, she wanted to know her body.

She spent weeks studying the mixed genetics of jungle cat and heron. She spent just as much time learning every single medical nuance of Elila's dual heritage. But Pedryn spent even longer remembering the feel of the heron wrapped in her steely arms.

Every night Pedryn takes to the ocean needing to feel the liquid darkness. Before her swims calmed her, helping to reorient her sea-dwelling physiology. But now, her swims fueled her hungry thoughts of a captivating heron.

The shark couldn't help but wonder about the girl. She wanted to know what Elila would say to her if they ever met again. Pedryn couldn't help but imagine such a meeting would involve screams, tears and maybe even a few angry slaps. And then there was the possibility that Elila wouldn't speak to her at all. Perhaps, the heron would become so overwhelmed with fear that she would simply shut down retreating to some sort of catatonic state. Or maybe Elila would demand some sort of explanation, begging and pleading for a restitution that Pedryn could never give.

No, Pedryn couldn't guess how Elila would react to her presence. But in all her wildest fantasies she never imagined having to treat the injuries of the young girl. She never imagined the heron's body being found abandoned on their beach. And Pedryn never dreamed that the she would feel so terribly conflicted.

Because all of sudden she found herself wondering if Elila would understand. She began to think of honesty. And she began to wonder how telling the truth might change things for her and for Elila. Pedryn doubted that Elila's parents had ever explained such minor details like actual facts to their daughter. Pedryn knew all too well how pig-headed and obstinate Thash could be. She could just picture Thash totally ignoring her daughter's questions and pleads for help.

She didn't know where her sudden need to be forthright had come from. There were certainly political motives to confess their dark secrets to Elila. But she didn't know how the girl would react. The whole thing could be made worse. But after that night in the water, Pedryn just didn't know how that was even possible.

"Oh no!" Carielle screamed quickly clasping her hand over her mouth. She had never imagined anything like this could occur. She had seen Pedryn staring at Elila earlier in the evening. But she never thought that her cousin could this, not after everything else.

"Uhm, okay this isn't as bad as it seems. We'll just have to put her body in the water. Who knows that she's here?" Carielle asked concerned about the possibility of another political upheaval for her tribe.

"I didn't do this Carielle. We found her like this." Pedryn said moving closer to Elila. She leaned against the exam table wondering how much longer she had before the sedative wore off. Pedryn was beginning to think that she should not be the person that Elila woke up to.

"Okay, that's a plausible story. But I think it needs a little work." Carielle stammered trying to pull her long hair away from her face. She began to wish that she hadn't drunk so much earlier in the evening. Even hours later she was still feeling the effect of the rollen juice.

"Sorry to disappoint you but I really had nothing to do with it. I haven't left my dream chamber since we got back. And Zeranna found her on the beach already injured." Pedryn said crossing her arms across her chest. She was growing annoyed with Carielle's suspicions.

"Well, what happened to her?" She asked, for the first time entertaining the thought that her cousin may not actually be responsible.

"I'm not sure." Pedryn answered leaning down very close to the girl's body. Wafting against the girl's normally humid swamp skin, Pedryn picked up the aroma of something foreign and out of place. It was the odor of leather and reptile. Pedryn let her eyes glaze over as she realized that it was the scent of a cobra.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 6

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"We were at the club and she was dancing with that snake." Pedryn whispered realizing that they had obviously left Elila in rather dangerous hands.

"So?" Carielle asked not really understanding what her cousin was getting at. Carielle barely remembered seeing Elila at the club. She had started drinking very early in the evening.

"She must have been a cobra. I didn't even notice. I was too…focused on Elila." Pedryn admitted feeling rather foolish. She was widely known as her tribe's best hunter. And it was rather apparent that she had let a vicious snake pass right by.

Carielle walked forward finally taking in all of Elila's appearance. She didn't know much about the girl's physiology. And she really couldn't tell what condition she was in.

"Is she going to be all right?" Carielle asked wondering just how bad this situation was going to become.

"Yes, as far as I can tell. I had to give her a sedative to knock her out." Pedryn answered realizing that her cousin's concern came from the girl's rather passive demeanor.

"What happened when she saw you?" Carielle asked suddenly filled with an anxious worry. She wouldn't trade places with Pedryn for all the money in the kingdom. Carielle knew all too well what it was like to live with the guilt of her actions. Night after night, she was haunted by a beautiful jungle cat named Yamina. And Carielle would give anything in the world to never have to see her victim again. But Elila had showed up right on their doorstep. And now Pedryn had a world of trouble to deal with.

"She hasn't yet. I knocked her out before she saw me." Pedryn answered. Carielle glanced at her cousin and then done at the sleeping form of the girl. She knew it was for the best. If anything, they should stay as far from each other as possible.

"That's good. Well, can we get her back to her tribe?" Carielle asked wondering if it would be possible to move the girl before she woke.

"No, the next transport doesn't come till morning. And besides, we won't know if she can be moved until she wakes." Pedryn answered leaning against the table. It was so odd being this close to Elila. She could reach out and touch the girl and the young heron would never even know.

"She can't stay here. The repercussions of this will be unfathomable. We have to drop her off somewhere." Carielle answered, knowing that the daughter of the almighty Fasara Alpha could not be found injured and beaten on their tribe's beach.

"What do you propose we do with her? Dump her in the woods for another predator to happen upon? She wouldn't be safe. And then we would be responsible for anything that happens to her." Pedryn answered trying to balance her emotions with sound political logic.

"Pedryn this is bad. This is very very bad!" Carielle stammered running her hands through her hair.

"Yes, but besides pointing out the obvious to you have anything constructive to say?" Pedryn asked, feeling the sudden need to fill her lungs with water. She hadn't really thought things through when she treated Elila. But now that those actions had been carried out she certainly was going to put all her hard work in jeopardy.

"We have to call the Alpha." Carielle answered hoping that Pedryn wouldn't see her request as a lack of faith or distrust in her abilities, because that wasn't the case at all. Carielle had every confidence in her cousin's ability to lead the tribe. But some manners needed the council of a higher authority.

"I've already thought of that. Contacting the Alpha would be an inadvisable move from here. The Gallion Village isn't secure. Anyone could be listening in if we tried to contact her. I don't feel that we can take that chance. Especially, not with a delicate nature like this one." Pedryn reasoned, gesturing to the helpless girl laid out before them.

Truthfully, Pedryn wished that the Alpha were here right now. She would give just about anything to not have to make these decisions. But when her tribe accepted the invitation to compete in the Gallion, she was named as acting Alpha. So until they returned to their home in the Midali wetlands, Pedryn knew that all tribal decisions rested with her.

"Okay, you're right. So now what?" Carielle asked feeling the sudden need to hyperventilate or even faint. She knew it would be worse for her if Yamina lied on the table in place of Elila. She didn't think she could stand ever having to look at her conquest. But Pedryn seemed so calm and rational. It was unsettling how easy she was adjusting to Elila's presence.

"She'll have to stay, at least until the morning transport. We'll just put her in a room for the night and keep her profile as low as possible." Pedryn said, knowing that secrecy would be a must.

"Is that possible?" Carielle asked, hoping that only a select few knew that Elila was even amongst them.

"Maybe…" Pedryn reasoned knowing that stopping the never-ending chatter of Jaura would be a difficult task at best.

"But I need to tell you something." Pedryn turned to stare directly into her cousin's red-rimmed eyes. Carielle braced herself for something uncomfortable to be discussed. She could practically see Pedryn searching for the words that she wanted to say.

"I want to tell Elila the truth." Pedryn said softly looking down at the girl's injured form.

"You CAN'T!!!" Carielle screamed storming away from both her cousin and the girl. She didn't know what Pedryn was thinking. Surely, she had lost her mind.

"It was part of the treaty. None of us are ever allowed to say what really happened down in the water. No one can know. You know that." Carielle tried to reason with Pedryn. She knew her cousin would do what she wanted regardless of her statements. But she felt she had to at least try to convince her to see logic.

"The treaty specifically says that any member of the tribal council has a right to know all the facts. And that includes Elila. And Yamina…" Pedryn stated knowing that she was clinging to minor semantics at this point.

"You know that wasn't the intention of the treaty. Thash felt that only the warriors could handle knowing what really went on, not the women. And the Alpha has the right to make those decisions. Elila's own parents didn't want her to know the truth. It's not our place to second guess what they tell their daughter." Carielle answered feeling that Elila needed to be kept from all the sordid details of her kidnapping.

"Isn't it? Carielle we were affect too by what happened. Don't we owe it to ourselves to tell them?" Pedryn asked wishing that her cousin would take her side. She really was conflicted as to what would be the best course of action. If only Carielle would agree with her, this decision would be much easier.

"You want to tell her to ease your own guilt. And that's not fair to her. She's nothing but a girl. You're a changeling. You have to be the stronger person and keep the secret. Telling her would only add to her pain." Carielle answered. She had to believe that everything she was telling her cousin was really the right thing to do. It had to be. At times, Carielle felt like the only thing she could ever give to Yamina to make up for all the pain she caused was her own heart-wrenching silence.

"I think that if I were in her position I would want to know." Pedryn answered honestly. She felt that on some level no one could ever fault her for telling the girl the truth.

"Why Pedryn? Is this just to ease your own conscious? This is all done now. We can't do anything to make up for it or change history. All we can do is live up to the terms of the treaty. And you can do that by not involving Elila in your quest to lift your own burden. She doesn't deserve that." Carielle answered.

"Maybe not…" Pedryn muttered walking over to the door.

"But I can't even remember when we started the lies. At the time, they seemed necessary. We lied to the kingdom. We lied to the Fasara. We lied to our own tribe. We even lied to each other. And at the time, it seemed like we were saying them for decent and good reasons. But they changed me. I'm not the same person I used to be." Pedryn explained, feeling a bit of her old self begin to seep through the cracks of her soul.

"None of us are Pedryn. We were all victims in a way…" Carielle answered wishing that her cousin would drop this ridiculous idea.

"I'll think about it." Pedryn replied softly. And Carielle knew that was the best response she could hope for from her normally stoic cousin. She looked down at the small heron and hoped that once again, Elila wouldn't be the cause of her cousin very unraveling.

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"You'll stay with her?" Pedryn asked her cousin in a desperate attempt to leave.

"What??? Where are you going?" Carielle responded adamant that she did not want to be left alone with Elila.

"I need to go. I can't stay here. I, I need to think." Pedryn said with a soft unsteady tone that frightened her cousin. Pedryn was always in control and in command of every situation. But she was already unsure and meek after spending only minutes with the heron.

"Okay, I agree you need some time to think things through." Carielle answered calmly. She moved forward trying to embrace her taller relative around the waist. She wanted to seem supportive. She sensed how very much Pedryn needed that from her. But she couldn't agree with her cousin's desire to tell Elila the truth. And if some time away would help Pedryn think rationally, then she was all for it.

"But I can't stay with her. We'll get someone else, someone who doesn't know her." Carielle cautioned knowing how improper things might look. Her tribe wasn't known for being able to keep secrets. And if it ever got out that she had spent time behind closed doors with the Alpha's daughter, there would be serious repercussions for the entire Midali.

"It has to be one of us. No one else can protect her." Pedryn answered knowing that her cousin would have to see that she was the only choice.

"Protect her?" Carielle asked turning to really look at the girl. And for the first time Carielle saw the heron for what she really was, prey.

"Look at her� She wouldn't survive like that here. If anyone here finds out who she really is, her life would be in danger. Even if they don't know, it's her condition that concerns me. Any shark within miles will be able to smell her blood. And between you and me I don't think Elila is up to a frenzy at the moment." Pedryn explained saying all the words that her cousin didn't want to hear.

"Fine go! I'll take care of things." Carielle answered suddenly wanting Pedryn as far from Elila as possible. She couldn't be certain but there was something alarming about how her cousin had mouthed the word frenzy. It was almost like the word had wet her mouth before ripping from her body. All Carielle knew was that her cousin wasn't herself. And she could only hope that distance would help Pedryn see things more clearly.

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Pedryn took the first exit she could find. She didn't want to risk wandering the halls of the Fluid languishing down through the easy wet levels. She didn't want to feel the cool sanitary water of the building. She craved the dirty, unfiltered, salty waves of the sea. And after a quick 30ft. drop off the nearest balcony railing, Pedryn found herself neatly crashing into the black liquid of the Gallion Ocean.

The water raised up to welcome her body into its depth. And as soon as her body rushed beneath the foamy surface, she started to rip at her clothes. She hated the feel of micro fibers against her flesh. And she simply couldn't stand anything hindering her movements in the water. She pulled the last shred of clothing from her body and regretfully threw the items away. It was such a shame; as much as she hated wearing clothing she rather liked that green outfit.

But now she was naked and gleaming under the silvery light of the moon. Often times she regretted their tribe's decision to move onto the land and join the kingdom. The water was their only true home. The ocean was beautiful, enchanting, and terribly deadly. And with those prevalent characteristics she had always felt that it was such a suitable match for her tribe.

She knew that her people were often seen as one of the most beautiful species in the entire kingdom. Pedryn couldn't even begin to count the number of times that she had been propositioned. She couldn't understand why a heated female so often singled her out. It didn't matter where they were, but even in a group of other shark warriors the women always seemed to flock to her.

And it wasn't something Pedryn was at all comfortable with. She had always had romantic problems. She never knew how to talk to women. She never knew how to touch them. And she certainly didn't know how to even approach a woman not of her tribe.

Women were gentle and delicate. Even those of her tribe didn't have anywhere near the strength of their fellow hybrids. And it was their fragility that had always frightened her.

Pedryn had always been interested in only one thing, the hunt. She never cared for the social graces and polite etiquette that some sharks adapted too. She wanted to be in the water searching for prey. And she was good at it, the best in her whole tribe. But such notoriety had won her the fellowship of many devoted females.

She started mating at an early age. It seemed only appropriate at the time. She was so accomplished in everything else of importance, why not this? But it had proved to be a near fatal mistake. She had honed her predatory instincts to the point of compulsion. And when she took a young beautiful Midali girl to her bed, the poor thing was never quite the same again.

Pedryn was overcome with hormones and the need to prey. Her mind was telling her to release her strength and give into the blood lust. And when the frenzy welled-up in her soul, she didn't even attempt to fight it. She wanted this. She wanted to prove her dominance. She craved the wild savagery of the animal spirit inside of her.

And the worst thing was, she didn't even know that she had hurt the poor girl until it was too late. Pedryn awoke the next morning to find the female near death. Her breathing was strained. Her eyes were fixed. Even the pallor of her skin had faded like ghost. Most awful was the blood. It was everywhere from the sheets to the ceiling. And Pedryn had never even wanted to hurt her.

She remembered all too clearly the feeling of intense horror. She jumped from the bed wanting to believe that there was some other cause for the gaping wounds. She didn't want to believe that she had done it. She couldn't have, all she had wanted was to be with the girl. She had wanted to touch her, to hold her� Pedryn had never meant for it to happen.

She ran through the entire rather large building in under a second. She had to get to her alpha, the tribe's leader. She needed help and with the condition of the girl, Pedryn knew that time was of the essence.

And her alpha took one look at her and seemed to know what had happened. They whisked the girl away, first to a medical treatment center. And then later, they sent the girl to a sister tribe all the way on the other side of the world. No one was to ever know what she had done.

But Pedryn couldn't forget. She had kept tabs on the girl. After all, she was the warrior's first. The poor girl had gone through years of painful procedures and therapy before she ever regained her true mobility. The healers said that if she hadn't been of pure shark heritage, she never would have survived.

After that, Pedryn had stayed far away from women. She felt like some sort of horrible monster that should be locked away in a cage. She didn't understand what had happened. And her alpha refused to even discuss it. So she was left to her own rather confused and adolescent impulses.

But later when her mind was calmer and wiser, Pedryn was able to truly analyze what had happened. She realized now that it wasn't lust that had driven her to take that poor girl to her bed. It was the hunt. In her young and foolish mind, she had never even thought to differentiate between sexual longing and the lust for blood. And to a shark hybrid, both desires are painfully intertwined.

And yet, there was so much more to that terrible incident then a simple predatory impulse. She hadn't been ready for it. She really hadn't even had a single sexual thought of her own.

But her alpha saw what a hunter and leader she was becoming. And suddenly Pedryn had an image to uphold. Her alpha pushed the young girl on her without so much as an explanation or even a word of caution.

And as a loyal child, Pedryn had gone along with her alpha's wishes. She had taken the girl thinking that sex would hold no mysteries to her. After all, she was the best at nearly everything.

But she couldn't have been more wrong. Sex held nothing but painful questions, embarrassment and shame for her. She couldn't even control her own predatory impulses.

And the first time that she touched the girl, Pedryn had known something was terribly wrong. She had never touched a female before. Her own mother had died long ago. And she had no siblings. She simply didn't know how to mold her hands to their delicate bodies. She felt horribly gawky and awkward. And she quickly found that her strength was her absolute worst feature...

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Her strength was normally such an asset as she battled through the ocean waves. But now, it was coming between her and the intimacy that she craved. Even a casual touch on the shoulder or tap on the arm was something painful and difficult for her. She had hurt far too many acquaintances to ever be comfortable around women of any kind.

Even though it reinforced the idea that there was something inherently wrong with her, she tried to ignore it. Instead, she simply clasped her hands together whenever a female past her by. She never wanted to accidentally touch them; even such incidental contact could prove disastrous.

Once she had asked her alpha for help. She had come to her parent stricken with grief and loneliness. She wanted to be like the other warriors. She wanted to control her strength. She wanted to restrain her animal instincts.

But her alpha only turned a deaf ear. Pedryn could only guess that the situation was too painful to even be openly discussed. Her parent told her that she was normal. That her blood lust in bed was a natural part of being a shark. And that one day she would meet a woman who could handle her rather grueling sexual demands.

And Pedryn believed her. She was nothing but a young pup at the time. And she had wanted to believe in her own normalcy. But even though she felt uneasy and unsure, she shrugged off the slight tenor of warning bells and went off to find such a women. If only she had listened to her own misgivings, so much could have been saved…

But she ignored her own inner voice and went off to prove something to herself. Her name was Bandrie. And Pedryn had been taken with her from the first moment they met. It had been years since her last rather painful incident. And she felt like she was ready to move forward. Pedryn wanted nothing more then to show that once and for all she wasn't some sort of horrid monster.

She wanted to touch a woman with gentleness. She wanted to be tender and loving. She wanted to feel complete and whole. And above all else, she had this sudden craving to give herself over to the physical needs of her flesh.

And Bandrie seemed like the perfect woman. The girl's parents sat on the tribal council. Socially, they were perfectly matched. Bandrie was popular and outgoing. And it didn't hurt matters that Pedryn knew how many warriors were waiting for their chance with the girl. When she moved to the very front of the line, Pedryn couldn't deny how powerful it made her feel.

But there were problems, despite the many advantages to dating the young socialite. Bandrie was beautiful, in the classic shark way. She was tall and angular. Her cartilage was soft and tender to the touch. Her lips were full and her eyes were like liquid sapphire. Her hair was short blonde and wavy. And Pedryn couldn't deny how very much she wanted to bed the girl.

It would seem that fate had other ideas. Bandrie put a new spin on the term high-maintenance. And Pedryn didn't know the first thing about meeting her needs. Pedryn was strong and silent, like a warrior should be. But the girl wanted someone to take her out for romantic evenings and whisper sweet words into her ear. Pedryn had no idea how to accomplish either. And despite her best efforts, she always left the girl disappointed and longing for the majesty of a sweeping romance.

The worst was the laughter. Pedryn knew they were mocking her. Of course the other warriors had to respect her because of her physical prowess and battle accomplishments. But socially, she was quickly becoming a pariah.

And Bandrie wasn't helping matters. In fact, she was only making things worse. She would spread gossip that would shoot across the tribe like the hot flames of wildfire. Everyone would know of her pathetic attempts at being romantic. Everyone would laugh at what she had failed to do. Everyone would ridicule her ineptness and inexperience.

But what made it so painful was that no one had the nerve to do it to her face. It was the silent and questioning glances she received whenever she entered a room. It was the laughter that would stop as soon as she rounded the corner. And it was the phrases spoken all around her that quickly ballooned into some sort of cruel inside joke.

Yet, nothing could have been quite as bad as when her alpha discovered the source of all the tribe's amusement. Her parent summoned her down into their shared private quarters. And from the looks of things Pedryn knew she was in for it.

"They're laughing at you! What are you going to do about it?" Her alpha had hissed. When her alpha was angry there was no reasoning with her. It was her way or no way. And Pedryn couldn't help but feel a bit frightened of what her alpha might ask her to do.

"It's that little bitch Bandrie's fault!!! Well you have to put a stop to it!" Her alpha screamed far too loud for someone with hearing as sensitive as theirs.

"Yes, alpha." Pedryn responded saying the only two words that she knew her parent wanted to hear. Her alpha stared at her with a furrowed brow and angry stance. It was clear that her parent thought their discussion was quite over.

"But what do I do?" Pedryn asked sounding like little more then a young child. She hated to sound weak, especially in front of her alpha.

"Act like a warrior and go take care of that woman!" Her alpha hissed practically kicking Pedryn from the chamber.

And she had gone far away. She had swum a great distance that night searching for some kind of peace. She looked to the stars for guidance. But they were strangely silent offering her nothing. She knew she had to return to the Wet Lands. But all her problems would still be there. And her alpha and Bandrie would be waiting. She knew that she had to take care of this uncomfortable situation. But she didn't have the slightest clue where to start.

So, she turned to the waters of the ocean for help. And much to her delight, they gave her the confidence she needed. On her way back home, Pedryn realized there was only one thing for her to do. She had to show Bandrie just what kind of warrior she really was. She had to give the woman her passion and her need. And she had to take her body in way no one else ever could.

So with the purest intent of passion, Pedryn returned for the woman ready to prove herself once and for all. But such a thing was never to be. She got lost in the sensations. The warrior was overcome with need. And before she knew it, the frenzy was upon her. This time however, she stopped before the girl's life was in danger.

But the situation was still ripe for disaster. Bandrie wouldn't be silenced, not like the first girl. And her parents were far too important to just ship her off to parts unknown. Instead they had to buy the young girl's silence. And it cost them dearly.

As Pedryn swam in long clean strokes through the temperate waters of the deep sea, she really couldn't understand why she was thinking of her two past attempts at sexual love. She hated thinking of them. She despised seeing Bandrie. And she did everything in her power to avoid ever having to deal with either issue.

But tonight as she swam beneath the full moon, she knew it was the appearance of Elila that had driven those thoughts into her mind. Perhaps the saddest thing of all was the strange seduction of that night with the heron. She had raped Elila, forcing the girl into the water against her will. But despite the outward brutality of such an act, she had treated Elila with more tenderness then the two that had come before. The day after, Elila had walked away from the Wet Lands bruised and torn. But Bandrie and the other hadn't walked for months.

And now she had a difficult decision. For some unknown and phantom reason, she found herself desperately wanting to tell Elila the whole truth about that night. She knew her guilt was eating at her. And Pedryn wanted the opportunity to explain away her actions, if only a small part of them. She wanted forgiveness but she didn't even know if that was something she deserved. Or if it were something Elila would be able to give.

But she felt compelled to try. She knew all the reasons why the truth had been hidden from the heron. But Pedryn couldn't help but think they were constructed to protect Thash, not her injured daughter. And yet she knew Carielle had a valid point.

Besides their need to play act political niceties, she knew it might be futile to even open her mouth. She had no idea how Elila would react to her presence. And on top of that, there was really no reason for the girl to believe a word she said. They weren't exactly on the best of terms. Still, she couldn't help but think that there might be certain advantages to the alpha's daughter knowing the whole truth. There were certain things to be gained for the entire Midali tribe.

And Pedryn was never one to let an opportunity slip away…

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She walked over to get a better look at the girl. It's not like she was hard, vicious, or even cold. She was simply a hybrid who knew how dangerous this whole situation could become.

Carielle looked at Elila's beaten form. She needed to be cleaned up a bit. She had streaks of mud, sand, and dirt covering her entire body. Her wrist, though carefully bandaged, looked swollen and angry. What little clothes she had on were torn in several places. Her knee was cut, very deeply. And her legs were covered in a smattering of bruises. In short, Elila looked liked a victim.

And Carielle couldn't help but feel her blood lust rise in response. She finally understood what Pedryn had been trying to caution her against. It was such an inherent trait amongst all shark hybrids that Carielle had never thought that much about it. Wounded prey was quite possibly the most powerful aphrodisiac to any shark in the world. There was something painfully erotic about how an injured female moved through the air around her. Her motions were always choppy and short, and it sent potent imagery to any shark's mind. It made them think of blood and the sweet taste of smooth flesh. It made their already heightened senses go into overdrive trying to find even the tiniest drop of blood riding through the air.

Right now, all Carielle wanted to do was run away from the heron and never look back. She could suddenly feel the girl's blood swirling through the air all around her. Her flesh, though dirty and marked, seemed to be calling out for her touch. Carielle didn't want anything to do with Elila. Put once the frenzy had started, there was nothing in nature that could possibly stop it.

Running from the room with a heaving breasts and tightly mashed teeth, Carielle quickly found Zeranna. The young shark was waiting for her, sheepishly standing outside the door. Carielle knew the shark would never eavesdrop. But she could see the worry etched in Zeranna's eyes. And from that one expression, Carielle knew she could count on the shark's help.

"Come with me." Carielle commanded escorting the young shark into the room. She knew Zeranna would obey her commands without question. With Pedryn momentarily unavailable, she was the acting alpha.

"She's alive." Zeranna cried out rather happily. She rushed to the girl's side checking her body over with a studious glance. Carielle watched as her eyes took in all of Pedryn's hard work and careful ministrations.

"We're going to help her?" Zeranna asked hopefully. Zeranna raised her eyes to Carielle with a sweet naiveté that she could only wish to know.

"Yes, but I need your assistance." Carielle said not wanting to move any closer to the girl. She looked at Zeranna standing so very calmly next to Elila and she couldn't help but feel a little amazed. There was no evidence of blood lust anywhere on Zeranna. Carielle couldn't help but envy her a bit. Her own jagged teeth were primed and ready for the bite.

"Anything?" Zeranna answered quietly tenderly striking Elila's hair from her sleeping face.

"We need to move her. I want you to carry her." Carielle said quickly. Zeranna seemed to think of her instructions. Then she looked down at the girl and gently cupped her face.

"Is that okay? Can she be moved?" Zeranna asked politely. She didn't mean to be disrespectful; she just didn't want to risk further injury to the girl.

"It'll be fine." Carielle snapped wanting nothing more then to be away from the heady aroma of swamp blood.

Zeranna nodded sweeping the small heron into her strong arms. She didn't ask why Carielle hadn't just simply moved the girl. She assumed that if the alpha's cousin wanted her to know, she would have explained. Besides, she didn't mind this small task. Zeranna was relieved to know that the girl was alive and apparently being cared for.

She followed Carielle down the long hallway of the dry floor. Zeranna assumed there were accommodations here of some kind but she had never seen them. True to her heritage, Zeranna preferred to stay on the all wet floor of the Fluid. There was just something tedious about fighting gravity day after day, moment after a moment. Zeranna would much rather travel through the easy glide of the water.

"Put her in here." Carielle said standing aside so that Zeranna could enter the room.

Carefully, Zeranna placed the girl onto the soft wide bed. She couldn't help but notice how beautiful the small heron looked as her body rested again the dark green sheets. Zeranna turned back to Carielle wondering if she was no longer needed. But Zeranna could tell that she lost in thought.

Glancing around the large room, Zeranna noticed the presence of a dream chamber. It was smaller then the ones on the wet level quarters. But it was there nonetheless. And Zeranna couldn't help but wonder why. A shark certainly wouldn't need a bed and a dream chamber. If anything, most sharks adamantly refused to sleep anywhere but in the water.

There were other things of small oddities that Zeranna's quizzical eye couldn't help but notice. A large wooden armoire stood proudly beside her. Spilling from its drawers were silk scarves in every different color imaginable. There were large white and red tapered candles surrounding the room in lazy circles. But the item in the most abundant supply was the rollen juice, cluttering the very top of the large bed's headboard.

"What is this room?" Zeranna asked very confused by her surroundings.

"I think it's a mating suite of some kind." Carielle answered a bit annoyed to find that this rather romantic setting was the only place they had to keep Elila.

Zeranna balked at the other shark's statement. She had never been in a mating suite before but had never imagined one to look quite like this. In her rather lusty and romantic fantasies she had always envisioned a room with a large and luxurious dream chamber. It did only make sense. Zeranna didn't know a single shark that would rather make love out of the water then in it.

"Really? But what about this?" Zeranna asked pointing to the bed that was taking up most of the room's space.

"Interspecies mating…" Carielle replied slumping into the only chair present.

"What?" Zeranna balked. Zeranna knew that she was widely known for not exactly being up on the most common trends running through the kingdom. But she had no idea that interspecies mating was so common that they would have made a provision for such a thing here at the Fluid. It's not like the thought bothered her, she was really just curious.

"This is the Gallion Village, Zeranna. Anything goes…" Carielle politely explained.

"Of course…" Zeranna mumbled making for the door.

"Do you need anything else?" She asked with the slightest of a twitch entering her voice.

"No, thank you… Zeranna you can't tell anyone about this." Carielle said. She wasn't really worried about Zeranna. She knew the girl would never betray a single moment of this to anyone. Zeranna was nothing if not trustworthy.

But all too quickly Zeranna left, leaving her all alone with the injured heron. Briefly Carielle had thought about asking her to stay, but decided better of it. She couldn't risk having Elila wake up to a strange shark. The girl might start telling Zeranna things that she wasn't supposed to know.

Deciding that there was only one thing to do, she slowly set about the task of stripping of her clothes. Once she was naked, she gracefully walked down into dark waters of the tiny dream chamber. All she could do was wait and hope for Pedryn's timely return.

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All alone in the dark, she stumbled about her quarters trying to find some sort of light. After several unsuccessful attempts and few quite painful falls, Elila eventually found a light switch. Bathing the room in the soft muted tones of dim lighting the girl had no question where she was. She was still with the Midali, only sharks kept their indoor lighting so very ineffective. Elila knew it had to do with the sensitive eyes of night predators. She didn't really mind. Truthfully, she too preferred this muted softness to the bright bold lights of the jungle. Her own eyes were far more comfortable in the darkened shade of the swamp.

Looking around she had to admit that the room's décor did unsettle her a bit. She wasn't sure why they would have put her in a place like this. She was beginning to wonder what they expected of her.

Tentatively, Elila eyed the door wondering if she should make a break for it. But judging from the natural dimness of the room, it would still be hours before the first transport. She still had no place to go.

Walking back to the bed, she finally noticed the presence of the dream chamber. Elila recognized its purpose right away. She had spent enough time with the Midali to know how their kind preferred to sleep. She stretched her head to the side trying to peer beneath its water surface. But it was no use; she couldn't see the bottom. And Elila had absolutely no intention of getting any closer.

Slowly she backed away from the dark watery hole. Hugging her body to the wall she found the furthest point of safety that she could reach. Carefully, she folded her body into a small little ball pressing herself into the corner of the room. Elila didn't care that she was lying on uncomfortably hard white tile. Even though her wrist was loudly protesting such a cramped position, she vowed to pay it no mind. In fact, she deftly ignored all the painful sensations her entire body was sending her. She really had no idea how terribly bruised up her evening with Licara had left her.

But right now, the snake was the furthest thing from her mind. Her fear of water was outshining every other possible threat of mortal danger. All she could think of was that at any moment, a shark would rise up from the dream chamber. It would rush to the surface like some sort of liquid god. Water would splash and splay everywhere, leaving not a single inch in the room dry.

And she would be helpless as she cowered in the corner. She would fold her arms over her face trying only to blind her vision. She wouldn't want to look at it. She couldn't bare to see the delight in it's eyes.

Then it would grab her roughly around the neck. Hauling her like she weighed little more then air, it would move her around the room. She would have to keep up with it's near impossible speed. Otherwise, she knew her own sluggishness would cause her to choke.

To no avail, she would grapple and kick at her captor. She would feel the naked gleam of it's flesh against her own. She would hear the deep primal growl. And she would know that her very life was in jeopardy.

If she were lucky, it would take her in the dream chamber. To her, the tank appeared small and easy to climb. Elila knew she would feel cramped and crowded in it, especially if the shark tried to make her do things.

But it would be far better then the ocean. Because nothing could possibly frighten Elila more then the deep waters of a jet black sea. In the ocean, there was no orientation. There was no beginning or end. There was simply the sheer expanse of ever after as it rushed across the planet in a global crashing wave.

She remembered the water in her lungs. She remembered her futile struggle to stay afloat. And she remembered the sheer terror of the never-ending sea.

And on the flat bottom of the darkened dream chamber, Carielle mentally cursed her cousin from afar. She had awakened the second Elila began moving around the room. Truthfully, she had never really fallen into a restful sleep. Her mind had been far too preoccupied and worried.

But she had stayed there on the bottom of the chamber hoping that Pedryn would return. Carielle didn't think she could handle Elila on her own. She didn't think she could listen to the screams. And the shark knew she couldn't possibly stand the site of the tears.

So she waited on the bottom of the liquid floor. She inhaled the water, taking deep liquid breaths. The water gently trickled down her throat filling her lungs with its fluidic grace. It felt better then breathing air, though her lungs were equipped to breath either. At times she felt sorry for those species that couldn't live in the water. They certainly had a distinct disadvantage considering that most of the Earth was covered in it. But she supposed it was a trade off of sorts. There were many species yet to leave the ocean. And at times, she wished that the Midali were still amongst them. If they had never made the journey up onto the Wet Lands, none of this would have ever happened.

But despite her wishes to the contrary, Carielle knew she had a very real problem. The heron was growing restless as she searched the room above. She could easily hear her movements from the beneath the water's surface. She was ready to move when she heard the heron hover near the door. But thankfully for whatever reason, Elila seemed to return to the bed.

Suddenly, she detected the unmistakable scent of fear. It was arousing and seducing her with its primal call. It wasn't the act of being afraid that attracted the shark. It was the aroma of the fear itself. It was like some sort of natural trigger, as old as the hunt itself.

Briefly, Carielle felt her hopes rise. She didn't know why the heron had suddenly become so frightened. But the logical explanation was that another shark had entered the room. Yet despite her fondest wishes, Carielle realized that after several lengthy minutes she was still very much alone with the girl. And as much as Carielle didn't want to, it would seem that it would be up to her to greet the young heron.

Deciding that there was no time like the present, she slowly surfaced from the water. Her first instinct was to jump out of the chamber but the shark realized that those types of fast movements might frighten the girl. Carefully, she walked out of the chamber letting her body enter the air with a thick silence. She looked at Elila. And the girl only stared.

Carielle was surprised when the screams never came. She was even more shocked to find the girl's face, almost calm in appearance. There were no tears. And there were no accusations. There was nothing.

Elila nearly lost the very beat of her heart when she saw the water move. At first, she had thought it had been her mind playing tricks on her. But soon the water was trickling onto the tile. And all too quickly, she wasn't alone any more.

She recognized the shark immediately. She knew her name was Carielle. And her first thought was one of gratitude. Elila was terribly thankful that Yamina wasn't with her. She knew her friend would never have been able to handle having to stare at her attacker.

Her next thought was of question. She wanted to know where Pedryn was. She wanted to know if the alpha shark even knew that Elila was in the building. And more importantly, she wanted to know what kind of danger she was in.

Carielle was simply staring at her. Elila could watch the rise and fall of her chest as the shark let her lungs reorient to breath the thin air instead of the liquid water. The heron didn't know what the shark was thinking. Carielle was keeping to her side of the room. She wasn't making any sudden moves towards her. But none of it really did much to put Elila's mind at ease. The girl could only rest her body against the wall, while her mind clung to a silent hope for mercy.

"One of our scouts found you on our beach." Carielle finally managed to say. From her words Elila could tell that the statement had been hard for Carielle. It was almost like the shark was afraid to even speak to her. Carielle couldn't look at her. She kept her eyes firmly focused to a spot on the wall just above the heron's head.

And Elila found the situation a bit odd. Even she, a mere bird, could brave a solid glance at the naked shark. Elila was beginning to think that Carielle was fairly disturbed by her presence.

"We'll take you back to your tribe when the transport starts again." Carielle gasped out still trying desperately hard to sound like a strong warrior. But she couldn't help the slight tremor in her voice. And she knew that if she looked at Elila it would her own undoing.

Suddenly, she understood with crystal clarity why Pedryn wanted to tell Elila the truth. Carielle had an unbidden desire to rush across the slippery floor on bended knee. She wanted to beg for Elila's forgiveness. She wanted to tell the girl everything. She wanted the heron to know that she wasn't some sort of evil creature. Carielle was a warrior. And more then anything else, she wanted the heron to know it too.

Carielle realized how much worse this must be for her cousin. Carielle had never touched Elila. She had attacked the other girl, Yamina.

But in some way, she had the strangest thought that in the great sweeping scale of things, it didn't really matter. Even if she couldn't tell Yamina... Even if she could never receive the forgiveness of her victim... She could still talk to Elila. She could tell her.

Slowly, she eyed the heron with timid unblinking eyes. Elila didn't look away. She only stared back with a quiet expression and a humble posture. Taking a deep breath, Carielle braced herself for the sudden impact of honesty. Because now without a question, she knew what she had to do.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 7

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Elila stared at the naked gleaming shark wondering what her intentions were. She had no delusions of kindness or even sympathy. She just didn't know why it hadn't attacked yet.

The heron's eyes traveled over the long lengths of Carielle's body. She noticed that the shark seemed smaller then Pedryn, in height and in build. Although Elila realized that her mind may simply be playing tricks on her. Given what she had been through with Pedryn, she tended to remember the alpha shark as larger then life.

But Carielle seemed somehow different. Her legs were long but lean. Her flat stomach rippled with the efforts of long intensive training. Her breasts were small but pert. Her round eyes were the familiar shade of sea blue that nearly all Midali possessed. And her skin was one long expanse of perfect gray silk.

Yet despite Carielle's unabashed nudity, it was her mouth that truly caught Elila's attention. The heron couldn't help but focus on it's tightly sealed lips that seemed so small and even a bit soft. It was misleading. Because Elila knew that beyond the smooth flesh of Carielle's mouth were the strongest most fierce some teeth in all of nature.

"I have to tell you something." Carielle suddenly gasped out looking at the woman before her. Elila was shocked by the sudden anguished tones coming from the warrior. The heron could tell that whatever was bothering the shark was something deep and intense.

"I'm not supposed to. But I have to." Carielle said again wishing that Elila would say something. She struggled to catch her breath and remain calm. But she couldn't do it. And she knew the heron had picked up on her distress.

If only the heron would speak then she would know if she was making the right decision. She could tell from the tones of Elila's voice if she would listen to what Carielle had to say. Because despite their wide-open unblinking stare, the shark had no idea what thoughts rested behind Elila's eyes.

But a small part of her knew that it might be better if Elila never spoke. Then Carielle could say her words. She could tell her everything without knowing how they had affected Elila. She could bravely tell the heron the whole truth leaving nothing out. And if Elila would only continue to grace her with silence, she would never have to know the repercussions of her sheer honesty.

Yet the words that Carielle felt compelled to say never made it from her mouth. Instead, her honest intention died somewhere in the back of her throat. It's not that she had second or even third thoughts about telling the heron. It was the bold intrusion of Pedryn that quickly changed her mind.

Now that the alpha shark had returned, Carielle knew the decision was no longer hers to make. Elila was no longer her responsibility. And the fact that her cousin was here, standing so imperiously in front of the girl, let Carielle know that she was once again in control.

Carielle really didn't know what to expect. She knew that Elila had feared her. When she came up from the chamber, she had heard the heron's heart beat a frantic rhythm.

But Carielle wasn't really important to Elila. She had never even laid a hand on her. So the heron had tolerated her presence through hooded eyes and a folded posture. Carielle knew that there had been some sort of unspoken agreement between them. As long as she stayed far from the girl's tender body, they would have no problems. And the shark had honored her unspoken wish. Carielle had no intention of physically confronting her in anyway.

And now there was Pedryn. Carielle was relieved to see how calm and collected her cousin appeared. Pedryn was the perfect image of authoritative control.

But it wasn't Pedryn's reaction that Carielle was really worried about. It was the heron she was concerned for. She could only imagine how Elila must be feeling. She was alone. Her body was injured and bruised. And she was virtually trapped amongst a tribe of sharks. And just when things couldn't get worse, her rapist walked through the door.

Truthfully Carielle wanted to be anywhere then where she was. Standing between Pedryn and Elila wasn't her idea of a good place to be. She could smell the fear and pain dancing through the air. And just when she thought things couldn't get more awkward, she sensed it. There was a strong undercurrent of desire wafting through the room. And when she glanced at her cousin's focused form, she knew without question that it was coming from Pedryn.

"Perhaps you would like to get dressed Carielle? I think you're frightening our guest." Pedryn said a bit dryly.

Looking down Carielle realized that she was in fact, naked. It wasn't something she was normally aware of. The Midali preferred to spend most of their time in the water. And of course, the hours they spent swimming were done in the nude.

But as she hurriedly pulled her clothes on she realized just how insensitive she had been. Glancing at Elila she briefly wondered if she should apologize for her unintentional offense. But in the grand scheme of things, she supposed her nudity was a minor mistake and one better left uncommented on.

Pedryn was only slightly aware of her cousin's hurried movements. She was far too focused on Elila to give Carielle any concern. But despite her watchful eye and keen senses, the heron wasn't really giving her much to work with. Elila hadn't said one word since she walked through the door. And glancing at Carielle's flushed face and distressed exterior, she wondered if Elila had even spoken to her.

But Pedryn could wait. She could wait for whatever Elila was willing to give. Her ears tried to strain for the tones of a scream that never came. Her eyes were watching for tears that never fell. And her body braced for the impact of an enraged and terrorized woman that in reality, never left the corner of the room.

But it was her mouth that was most intensely focused. Pedryn's felt her tongue swell and her teeth gnash at the mere idea of tasting the heron's skin. The shark tried to swallow her own blood lust but knew it was a battle she could never win.

"You were hunted by a snake?" Pedryn asked. She already knew the answer to her question but she felt it was time to speak directly to Elila. It was time to see how Elila truly felt about her presence.

And it was the moment that Elila had feared. It was the moment where she finally came face to face with her attacker. And just for a second, the entire world seemed to stop.

Pedryn stared at her with focused eyes and an icy exterior. It was strange but at the same time, somehow expected. In some intangible way, Elila had always known that she would see Pedryn again. Somehow she had always sensed that things were far from finished between them. But she had never imagined meeting quite like this.

The circumstance seemed off somehow. Pedryn seemed far too calm and almost distant. And Elila was already too injured and far too tired to confront her former attacker. She had always imagined that when this moment arrived she would look and feel her best. She would be able to say with her image what her lips couldn't. Elila wanted Pedryn to look at her and know that nothing that happened in the water mattered. That despite her vicious bite and snarling attack, she had survived. She needed Pedryn to know that the incident hadn't destroyed her. She wanted the shark to know that she was really okay, despite it all. And more then anything, Elila wanted the shark to know that she wasn't afraid anymore.

But things weren't turning out as she had hoped. Elila knew she portrayed a humbled and battered image. The cobra had nearly done her in. And by now, she supposed the sharks had figured out what had happened. Elila was certain that the snake had left her reptilian scent all over her.

Elila knew she looked like little more then weakened prey. And she was frightened that Pedryn's excitement might be rising in response. The heron did her best to remain perfectly still. She didn't want to make a single move that might accidentally entice the shark.

So, the heron remained frozen in place. She kept her lips sealed not trusting the cadence of her voice. She didn't want to sound frightened. And she didn't want to sound weak.

But somewhere along the way, Elila became conscious of her own body's reaction. She could hear the pounding of heart moving within her chest. She suddenly felt the sweaty pheromones of fear wafting off her skin. As she looked at her near naked flesh, Elila ran her eyes along the bruises and cuts. And the heron knew with a fluttering fear, that to the shark, she must look good enough to eat.

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Elila looked good. And looking at her folded body Pedryn couldn't deny how much she suddenly wanted to lick her. She wanted to taste her skin and nip at her flesh. She closed her eyes trying to push the images from her mind. She knew it was just the frenzy sending her those thoughts. It was the scent of Elila's blood. But she had to control herself. Too much depended on her remaining calm and in control.

"It was a cobra?" Pedryn asked hoping to find that her senses had been right. Elila nodded from her place in the corner. She was holding her legs tightly against her chest as if she was trying to ward off an attack.

Elila couldn't help but stare at Pedryn. She was just like the heron remembered. She towered with a lofty height and a strong solid build. There was just something nearly supernatural about a body comprised of cartilage. It gave the sharks this fluidic movement that no creature with solid bones could ever hope to copy. The shark's eyes were the same icy blue the Elila remembered. Her lips were round and full. Her breasts were large and lavish. And all her limbs looked just as strong and imposing as Elila's recalled.

And despite the fact that Pedryn was wearing a long gray pants and a loose blue shirt, Elila remembered every inch of the shark's naked flesh. The material was shiny and reflective. But the heron knew it didn't compare to the gleam of Pedryn's naked skin. And as she looked the shark over, Elila felt a bit unsettled that the shark was doing the very same to her.

"Well, you seem to be fine. You do feel all right, don't you?" Pedryn asked wondering if Elila would ever grace her with a vocal response. But still the heron remained mute once again falling back on body language.

"We'll leave you to rest. I'll have someone take you back to your tribe when the transport starts." Pedryn said walking towards the door. Carielle's heart was banging in her chest. And Pedryn's was truly no calmer.

The alpha shark had her hand on the door and she was grateful to be leaving. Pedryn knew that any more time with Elila might prove dangerous. And she didn't want to put either of them in an unseemly situation.

And Carielle was relieved to find that they would be leaving without a scene. There had been no screams, no tears, and no terrorized revelations of pain or loathing. There had been nothing. And Carielle wanted to leave before their luck turned against them.

But something happened to Elila. She realized that she just couldn't let Pedryn walk out the door without speaking to her. For some reason, it made her feel shameful. Like years from now she would always remember this reunion and know that she couldn't even trust the timbre of her own voice.

Elila wanted them to know that she wasn't just some weak bird. Despite the relative strength of her mixed body, Elila knew she was a brave person. And for some reason, she needed them to know it as well.

So, she reached for her voice trying to find the words that would bridge the gap between courage and fear. She knew there was nothing poignant or even important that she could say. None of that mattered; she just needed to say something.

"I saw you…" Elila managed to gasp out. Her compulsion to speak had finally won out. And she spoke. She knew it was only three little words. But it had been enough to halt the exit of the strong shark warriors.

Finally both of the sharks turned around not really sure what she meant. Pedryn was surprised to see the heron suddenly alert and responsive. She was licking her lips in a nervous anticipation. And for the briefest of seconds, Pedryn had the urge to tell her that everything would be okay.

"At the Gallion…I saw you two compete." Elila explained having seen their blank and unsure expressions. And the girl was pleased to find that her voice sounded strong and almost natural. She wasn't afraid and now they knew it too.

But neither shark said anything in response. Neither knew what to say. They nervously glanced at each other wondering where this strange conversation was headed.

"You did well…" Elila said shrugging her shoulder in a slightly nervous manner.

Carielle was at a total loss for words. If the shark didn't know better she would think that the girl was making an attempt to be friendly. And she just couldn't imagine that that was the case.

"Thank you." Pedryn mumbled thinking that someone had to respond.

Both of the sharks looked at each other silently begging the other speak. But neither of them had any words left to exchange. They were both taken aback by the girl's sudden need to dialogue. And all too quickly, Pedryn realized they were just standing there staring at the ground like a couple of frightened children.

Deciding to rectify the situation, Pedryn turned from the room and left the heron far behind. Carielle followed at her heels with a nervous gait that the alpha shark desperately wished that Elila hadn't seen. Once outside the room, she shut the door storming down the hallways in a fury of anger. This wasn't supposed to happen. Pedryn had been determined to stay in complete control. But instead, the mere heron had visibly unsettled them both with a few friendly words.

"What was that?" Carielle gasped out in a fluster of confusion. Pedryn glanced around the dimly lit lobby of the Fluid glad to see that they were alone.

"I mean… What did she mean by that? What was she trying to do?" Carielle screamed unnerved by her encounter with the heron.

If she were honest with herself, Carielle would realize that deep down her anxiety was coming from her near confession. She was distraught by her own volatile reaction to seeing the heron. And she was frightened by her sudden and a desperate need to be honest. More then anything, she was worried that left alone with Elila; she would spill all of her secrets.

"I think she meant that she saw us at the Gallion and she thought we did well." Pedryn snapped wishing that her cousin would calm down.

"NO!!! She wouldn't try to be nice. There is some other reason she said those things. She had some sort of ulterior motive." Carielle yelled wanting to believe that the heron had some sort of dark reason behind her otherwise kind compliment.

But her cousin only laughed. Pedryn knew very well that Elila had no such hidden motives or schemes. It wasn't in the heron's nature. If she spoke to them it was only because she wanted to. And as much as it embarrassed Pedryn to admit it, her friendly gesture had caught them visibly off-guard.

"Carielle, calm yourself. I'm certain that is not case. Elila doesn't have a deceptive bone in her body." Pedryn answered leaning against the nearest wall.

"You saw her in there!" Carielle gasped lowering herself to the floor in defeat. She slumped at her cousin's feet too humiliated to even look Pedryn in the eyes.

"What is it? What's really going on?" Pedryn asked knowing that her cousin was having a rather unprovoked violent reaction.

"I almost told her." Carielle whispered hoping that the alpha shark wasn't too displeased with her near breech of behavior.

"What?" Pedryn asked wanting to make sure that she understood exactly what Carielle was telling her.

"I almost told her the truth Pedryn. I don't know what came over me. I just saw her there. And I wanted to try anything to make it better." Carielle admitted hanging her head in defeat.

"I understand. I had the same response." Pedryn answered in a crisp tone.

"But you didn't say anything?" Pedryn asked.

Carielle only shook her head in response and the alpha shark felt grateful for small favors. After seeing the heron, Pedryn wasn't sure she could tell the girl. On some level it just didn't seem right, despite her wish to be exonerated. And yet, there was another side to the shark that still felt compelled to make sure Elila knew everything. This was something that Pedryn felt the heron's parents had no right to keep from her. But the shark looked down in frustration realizing that she saw no way to compromise between her own differing opinions. And yet sometime before the first transport, Pedryn had to make decision. It was something the shark knew that she just couldn't put off any longer.

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"Mmmh, where are you going?" Zelsi whispered into the warrior's ear. The young girl had absolutely no qualms about thoroughly licking her lover's ear as she pronounced each and every syllable.

"It's late, Zels…" Kellis whispered turning away from the pert concubine sharing her bed.

"So? I'm not tired yet…" She pouted rolling over to straddle the naked jungle cat's body.

Kellis sighed feeling rather badly about the entire situation. But she knew she had no one to blame but herself. Zelsi had a legendary sexual stamina. Kellis had even heard rumors about a few warriors that had actually managed to keep up with her.

But as far as Kellis knew, they were just rumors. Zelsi was a professional and Kellis didn't think there was a hybrid alive that could keep up with her all tricks. And Kellis was certainly no exception.

Yet she had known what she was getting into when she took Zelsi back up to her room. She knew the kind of night that she was in for. And in her drunken state it had felt like such a good idea. But now, in the aftermath of blossoming sobriety, things weren't looking quite as seductive as they had only hours before.

If anything, now they seemed bleak and oppressive. And more then anything the warrior wanted the concubine gone from her bed. But the naked jiggling form of the blonde woman wasn't making such a task easy by any means.

Kellis stared into the classic beauty of Zelsi and was instantly flooded with memories of her youth. Zelsi had been her first. In her tribe, the most honored warriors received only the services of the very best concubine. So when Kellis started defeating records and won battles at an early age, her own alpha took her meet Zelsi.

The warrior could still remember that night. They had been in Zelsi's open and humid quarters. Her bedroom overlooked the moonlit river that runs right through the heart of the village. And the woman's home had been expertly decorated to achieve the perfect scene of seduction and romance. Kellis had literally been stunned by such a florid display of raw sensuality.

And she had loved every single minute of it. Zelsi loved her profession and she took great pleasure in bringing the young hybrid into the land of sexual pleasure. There had been long hours of discovery that first night together.

First, Zelsi had touched her young body. The woman ran her hands over her warm skin and touched her in places that had made Kellis blush. Then she used her mouth doing with her tongue things that Kellis had never even dreamed possible. And just when Kellis thought there was simply nothing more magical that could happen between them, Zelsi allowed her bite. And that single act of predatory submission caused the young warrior to howl in a blood-curdling climax.

The young changeling came back to Zelsi for many more nights. There was at least a week of pure sexual tutelage. But this was one subject that Kellis didn't mind studying.

Zelsi showed her how to touch a woman. The warrior carefully learned to be mindful of her strength. She was showed how to suckle, caress, kiss, and later penetrate the concubine writhing beneath her. Later when all the easier lessons had been mastered, Kellis learned the most difficult act of lovemaking. She mastered the art of sensual predation. When the passion was burning and her loins were wet, her jungle cat blood would allow for no less.

She was shown the best places to give the bite. And Kellis dutifully learned all the parts of the body that she could never pierce with her feline fangs. The hybrid learned to control her inflamed needs and bite only the surface of the skin. And Zelsi was so very patient as she taught her all the best places to let her mouth sink beneath her warm feminine flesh.

Then Kellis learned how to put all her skills together to create a symphony of pleasure. She learned the art of foreplay and the importance of restraint. The hybrid learned how to tease her lover body while whispering words of pleasure to her mind. And when all that was done and mastered, Kellis learned how to take her lover to the brink of pleasure again and again until finally they both fell over the towering edge of a blinding orgasm.

They were lessons of life, love, sex, and sensuality. And Kellis was a gifted student. But when the week was up, Zelsi returned her services to the rest of the tribe. And the young hybrid went home with a broken heart and a wounded ego.

It was a long while before Kellis ever understand the nature of a concubine. It took many shed tears and a few bruised feelings before she realized her supposed rejection wasn't personal. Zelsi was a professional. And while she might have a soft spot where the golden jungle cat was concerned, she could never love her.

Kellis remembered the day she finally confessed all her confused feelings to her alpha. She felt ashamed for being so foolish and misguided. She felt ridiculous for thinking of the concubine in the same terms of romance, love, and marriage.

Her alpha gently laughed as Kellis whispered her pained thoughts and troubled heart. Her parent was so kind as she sat Kellis down and told her the difference between a concubine and a woman. Her alpha told her that one day she would find a woman she could fall in love with. That one day Kellis could have all those mushy romantic notions about a special person in her life.

But that no matter how much wanted it, that special person could never be a concubine. Zelsi was her teacher and nothing more. But she should cherish everything the experienced concubine had showed her. Because one day, Kellis could use all of her learned skills to please the woman that she did love. Her alpha had assured her that one day she would understand the difference between a bit of sexual fun and falling in love.

And even though Kellis had taken all of her alpha's advice to heart, it was a long while before she felt better. She avoided contact with Zelsi at all times shying away from all offers of further sexual education. Yet, somewhere along the line she grew more comfortable with the role of the concubine. And although Kellis knew she was far from being Zelsi's most frequent customer, she did partake of her services from time to time.

But as she looked at the woman shamelessly straddling her form, Kellis couldn't help but wonder if she didn't still have a lot to learn. She knew that when it came to sexuality there was little she hadn't done. But when it came to matters of the heart, the warrior felt that to be a completely different story.

The warrior knew her feelings ran deep for the heron. But here she was sharing her bed with Zelsi. The irony was that she could still smell Elila on the sheets. It had only been last night that they had laid down next to each other and shared the warmth of this very bed.

But now, the sheets were covered in the aftermath of her attempt at sexual pleasure. Kellis knew that the last few hours hadn't been her best effort by any stretch of the imagination. And she suspected that Zelsi was just about two breaths away from telling her as much.

She had just been too drunk to have full use of her body. She knew her hands had been clumsy. Her lips had dripped with an unattractive slobber. And much to her embarrassment, Kellis knew her pleasure had come and gone in a matter of quick seconds.

And unfortunately, she could tell that Zelsi had received nothing from their hours of sexual fumblings. The woman's body was taught with a dire need searching for release. Her mouth was wet and swollen. Her breasts were aching and flushed. And as she rubbed her wet mound up and down the warrior's thigh, Kellis could feel the tension begging for release.

Worst, was what Kellis knew would happen if she disappointed the concubine. Zelsi was merciless with her bedroom gossip. Within a matter of hours it would be all over the tribe that she had failed to please her lover.

"Come on, you know you can't leave me like this…" Zelsi whispered with just the slightest hint of threat in her otherwise husky voice.

The warrior winced trying to move up on the bed. Her head pounded with the agony of rollen juice every time she tried to move. Kellis didn't see how she could possibly meet the concubine's demands when her own head was swimming in a sea of pain. But when Zelsi flashed her a familiar harsh and demanding stare, the warrior knew she had to try. Very slowly she sat up on the bed and mentally vowed to do her absolute best to save her reputation.

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"That's more like it…" Zelsi whispered eagerly wrapping her arms around the warrior's strong back. She was mindful of Kellis' condition. After all, she was a concubine. This wasn't the first time she had seen the effect of rollen juice.

She licked her lips leaning in for a kiss. The warrior's lips gently quivered against her own. And when Kellis opened her mouth Zelsi could still taste the sour essence of intoxication. But she didn't really mind. This certainly wasn't the first time Zelsi had been with someone who had drunk past their limit. And yet all too quickly the warrior pulled away gently pushing her naked body to arms length.

"I know I taught you how to kiss better then that. We should try again. Except this time, use your tongue and try not to drool on me." Zelsi said with just a touch of harshness in her voice.

Kellis stared at her from behind hooded eyes. Normally a concubine would never dare talk to warrior with the demanding tones that Zelsi entertained. But Zelsi was different. She was the best in the entire village. And being the very best gave her certain advantages and liberties that no one else enjoyed.

"I'm sorry… I can't, Zels. I think I'm still drunk." Kellis whispered feeling her warrior's pride slip away with every word she muttered. There was nothing worse then failing a lover in bed, especially if that woman was Zelsi.

But at the moment, there was nothing the hybrid could do about it. She simply wasn't physically capable of managing a satisfying romantic encounter, especially not with Zelsi. Her standards were far too high and difficult to reach. Zelsi was never a quick roll across the bed.

And looking at the blinking chronometer on the nightstand, Kellis knew she just didn't have time to satisfy the concubine. There were only a few hours before dawn. And the warrior had to be at the Gallion awards ceremony bright and early. Kellis knew she had to sober up before she walked onto a stage to receive a trophy for her entire tribe. It simply wouldn't do if she took a headfirst slalom into the audience.

"I see. You know Kellis, these aren't the bedroom manners that I remember teaching you." Zelsi sniped obviously very annoyed that her star pupil didn't want to play any more.

The warrior visibly winced at the sharp tone and educational reference. Zelsi always liked to remain in control, especially in bed. The concubine was a master at making her partners think that it was their stronger hybrid bodies that were in control of their passion. She had this way of making the warrior's feel strong, animalistic and empowered. While in essence, they were only doing what Zelsi told them too. Her skills laid in the fluid art of silent domination. And Kellis hated every single minute of it.

In recent years, the warrior had taken to staying away from Zelsi on most occasions. She could only count sporadic times that she had even taken the smallest part in the woman's professional services. And it was all because of this. Kellis hated being dominated in bed, silently or otherwise. And she hated trying to please Zelsi. Gifting the concubine with the pleasure she wanted was like fighting an underwater uphill battle on the darkest night of the year.

And Kellis had simply grown sick of it. The warrior preferred to bed women content to let her control the flow of passion. And she preferred the company of soft, gentle women who didn't bark out their unreasonable physical demands for the long spans of tiring hours. And most important, she preferred shy and reticent women. She preferred a woman that still blushed at her touch and kept her bedroom dalliances to herself. There was nothing worse to waking up and finding out that the entire village knew of your sexual shortcomings.

"Zelsi, please… I don't feel well. The ceremony starts in three hours. Elila could come back to the room at any moment. And I have got to sober up before I give my speech." Kellis pleaded with the woman hating the sound of her own meek voice.

"I just need some painkillers, a few glasses of water, and some food in my stomach. Please Zelsi, don't be angry with me. I promise I'll make it up to you later." The warrior added when the concubine remained eerily silent as she lay across the plush bed.

"Fine! But if you ever expect to make this up to me, you'll have to try a lot harder then you ever have before. Because after tonight, I'm not going to be as kind as I usually am. And you don't want to cross me Kellis. You know what happens to warriors who abuse my services!" The concubine snapped walking to the bedroom door in long angry strides. Zelsi stood there yelling with her hands on her hips totally unaware of her nudity.

But Kellis was all too aware of the concubine's words. She knew what Zelsi's thinly veiled threat entailed. She could remember several warriors who had failed to live up to the woman's expectation. Not only had their reputations been nearly ruined, but she had also gone to their wives giving explicit details of their sexual encounters. Kellis was briefly grateful that she had no wife for Zelsi to run too. But things were still not going to be pleasant for her considering the concubine's mood.

"Especially considering how far outside the bounds of normal services you went. You did things to me tonight that I have never allowed before, not with you… But I thought you were special. I care for you and you know that. But now you are taking advantage of me! And I won't tolerate it, not from you, not from anyone!" Zelsi hissed slapping her hand onto the door, preparing to storm away in grand naked exit.

"Wait!" Kellis screamed tentatively hovering on the bed. She had no idea what Zelsi was referring too. The warrior knew that she was generally one of Zelsi's more straight-laced clients. Most hybrids came to the concubine seeking things that the average woman just wouldn't do. But Kellis was generally very demure in her sexual needs and she couldn't even begin to image what Zelsi was referring to.

"What are you talking about?" Kellis asked in a soft voice. She didn't want to anger the woman anymore then she already was. But she felt like she had to know what had happened between them. If she abused Zelsi in any way, Kellis felt that it was something she had to know.

"You don't remember!" Zelsi snapped angrily cocking her head to the side.

"No, Zelsi I was drunk. You know that. Now please, come back to bed and tell me what I did." Kellis asked nicely. Her request stemmed from a dire two-prong need. She wanted the woman to calm down. But she also wanted to look the concubine's body over with a more discerning eye. She wanted to see if her unusual request had left any marks behind.

"It was in the steam room. Do you remember being there with me?" Zelsi asked walking back over the warrior. She refused to sit down but at least the concubine had stayed.

When Kellis negatively shook her head the woman began pacing the bedroom in long furious strides. Zelsi didn't feel that she was a temperamental person. She just knew what she wanted and hated not getting it. But the only thing worse then being disappointed was being forgotten. And she felt that their shared tryst in the steam room deserved at least the foggiest of memories.

"We went in there right after that little bitch Narlene slapped you." Zelsi said storming around the room to face the warrior.

Kellis winced hearing the statement. She couldn't even imagine what she could have done to make Narlene lash out at her. Narlene was normally the perfect picture of social decorum. And Kellis knew just how very much Narlene wanted her romantic company. If Narlene slapped her, the warrior could only assume that her behavior had been completely boorish.

"You don't even remember that do you?" Zelsi scoffed bravely stalking up to the warrior with a strangled stare.

"You and she were having some sort of romantic moment when Malaryn called you down to the hot tubs. I was there with some other warriors. I was eagerly congratulating them on their victory." The concubine explained crossing her arms over her exposed chest. Kellis rolled her eyes easily imagining just how Zelsi was congratulating her teammates.

"I was very happy and content. But you wanted a personal celebration. And because of my special feelings for you, I agreed. I abandoned the rest of the team and went off alone with you." Zelsi answered.

Finally, Kellis fully understood where most of Zelsi's anger was coming from. She had probably abandoned a small group of warrior's in mid passion. She walked out on them without finishing her job. And that alone would earn her some hard feelings and fences to mend.

But she had left them for Kellis. So on top of her slightly tarnished professional reputation she was getting nothing out of her choice. And Kellis knew she had to do something fast if she was ever going to get out of this with a single shred of dignity.

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"What about Narlene? Why did she slap me?" Kellis asked totally confused by that bit of information.

In a normal circumstance of sobriety Kellis knew that she would have gently taken Narlene aside to bid the girl goodnight for the evening. The warrior liked to think that she was adept at being conscious of the feelings of the woman around her. She would never intentionally want to hurt any of them.

"Is that all you care about?" Zelsi sneered thinking that she might like the satisfaction of hitting the warrior once herself.

"No, please just tell me everything." The warrior begged knowing that it would be better to hear everything now before she saw the girl tomorrow at the ceremony.

"I came to greet you. Narlene was appalled." Zelsi answered with a familiar smugness in her voice. Kellis winced envisioning the scene in her mind. She could just imagine how shocked Narlene was to see Zelsi wrap her naked body around her own.

" You shouldn't take little girls down into the hot tubs. You know the kinds of things that go on down there. Truthfully, that little gossiping twit should have known better. It was her own fault for coming down there." Zelsi explained. The concubine couldn't help how she felt. There were just certain naked places that she felt very territorial over.

"I'm sure you loved explaining that little fact to her." Kellis snapped.

Even though Zelsi professed to love her profession. And even though she sung the praises of freedom and independence, the warrior couldn't help but think that there was a small part of her that envied the other women in the tribe. Zelsi hated every single one of them. And Kellis was beginning to see it was because of jealousy over all the things the concubine knew she couldn't have. Maybe the hybrid was romanticizing the woman a bit but Kellis couldn't help but think that beneath it all, there was a small part of Zelsi that thought of things like marriage and children.

"Oh, I didn't say a word. You were the one who enlightened young Narlene about a warrior's needs." Zelsi mocked recalling the horrified expression on Narlene's face when the warrior had told her just what she wanted to spend the evening doing.

And at the moment, the look on Kellis' face was almost priceless as well. She was horrified and shocked at the thought that Zelsi had put into her mind. And the curiosity was killing her. She just had to know what she could have possibly said to Narlene to make her so angry.

"What did I say?" Kellis asked with a white face and a small voice.

"Oh, something about she was just a little girl. And how at the moment you needed a woman's touch." Zelsi answered running her expertly manicured hand down the warrior's arm.

Zelsi watched the emotions play across the hybrid's face and truthfully she couldn't be angrier. She had intended this little walk down memory lane to be about her own disappointment and disservice. She wanted Kellis to plead an apology and offer up her strong body as sexual forgiveness.

"Oh god, I'm sorry… I can't believe I did that. I have to apologize." Kellis stammered knowing that at the moment it was far too late of an hour to waken Narlene.

"I can't believe you!" Zelsi hissed deciding that it was officially time to storm out of the warrior's bedroom. But Kellis stopped her with a firm grasp on her smaller wrist.

"Let go of me!" Zelsi screamed. She didn't care if the neighbors heard.

In fact, she didn't care if she woke the entire Lodge. She hated it when the warriors wanted to play rough. If they wanted to hold a woman helpless beneath them, let them get married. Those weren't games that she was willing to play.

"Wait a minute… You didn't let me finish. I can't apologize to you if I don't know what I did wrong. You still haven't told me what we did in the steam room." Kellis whispered willing to try anything to stop the woman's screams.

But Zelsi's lips remained tightly sealed as she struggled to break the hybrid's hold on her wrist. Kellis didn't know why Zelsi was even trying to fight her off. There was no one who knew more about a warrior's body then this concubine. There was no one who knew her strength and abilities better then Zelsi.

Briefly she wondered if Zelsi was just playing another one of her games. Kellis knew it wouldn't be the first time a woman had struggled in her arms only to seek a passionate submission. It wasn't something uncommon by any means.

The warrior was well aware that her status in the tribe had earned her the affection of many beautiful women. She knew that her strength was often seen as an aphrodisiac. Kellis knew how much her past lover's had enjoyed feeling a gentle touch with one hand while she held them firmly to the bed with the other.

But these acts of strenuous restraint weren't things that Zelsi had taught her. Kellis had learned these techniques on her own. If anything the concubine hated physical restraint of any kind. She simply wouldn't tolerate it, abruptly stopping a lesson if a young hybrid tried to flip her beneath their stronger body.

Kellis knew all too well that with Zelsi there was no compromise on the issue. She never really thought much about it at the time. The traumatic scene had happened during the end of one of her very first lessons.

In the heat of passion, she had taken Zelsi beneath her firmly holding the woman down to the bed. Instantly Zelsi started screaming at the very top of her lungs until Kellis backed away from the bed in a cloak of shame. The warrior easily remembered how embarrassed she had been for her lack of control. Zelsi had thoroughly chastised her into a trembling state of humiliation. The concubine had told her that despite her desires, she could never ever use her strength to restrain a woman. And as punishment, Kellis hadn't been allowed to touch her for days.

But all that changed the first time the warrior bedded a woman whose profession wasn't sex. Kellis found that most females in and out of her tribe liked to feel controlled, restrained and even a little dominated. And normally the golden cat had no reserves when it came to meeting these sensual requests.

Occasionally however, she would run into a woman whose tastes ran far more dangerous then her own. They wanted a rougher touch. They needed a firmer embrace. And they craved a deeper bite. But Kellis wasn't comfortable with any of that. She always put the safety of her lover's first.

Bringing her attention back to the present, Kellis quickly released Zelsi's wrist. The woman stalked across the room rubbing her wrist in pained exaggerated motions. Kellis knew she hadn't come anywhere close to hurting the woman. But she sat back ready to watch the show of emotions unfold before her.

"I've warned you about this." Zelsi hissed thinking that now might be the perfect moment to slap the warrior. And giving into her perceived justifiable impulse, she slapped the warrior hard across the face.

Kellis winced knowing that she had just been given the rather shameful accomplishment of angering two different women to the brink of physical violence all in the mere span of hours. And truthfully, the warrior felt her head lurch in unbridled pain. Zelsi certainly knew how to put strength into her hits. And with her hangover already causing massive head pain the slap had nearly made things intolerable.

She felt her eyes well in reactionary tears. But she refused to give into the need to cry. She hadn't cried since she was 10 yrs. old. And she wasn't about to start now, not in front of Zelsi of all people. She was her tribe's premier warrior and it wouldn't do for people to know that she had cried after getting soundly slapped by a woman.

"You're on a roll tonight. You angered Narlene. You made me furious. And I hear you sent another girl running in tears from your very presence." Zelsi mocked recalling the gossip she heard when leaving the steam room.

"What? Who?" Kellis asked desperately ashamed of her own behavior.

"I don't know who it was. I heard some of your teammates talking. They said some girl came downstairs and went back into the steam room. She must have seen us because moments later she ran away in tears." Zelsi explained with an amused gleam in her eye. She couldn't help it. She absolutely loved the idea of some innocent girl walking in on their explicit display of sex.

"Maybe it was Narlene." Kellis mumbled. She found herself actually hoping that it was Narlene who walked in on them. She couldn't stand the thought of having yet another woman to apologize too.

"I'm really not caring Kellis!" Zelsi screamed thoroughly unimpressed with the warrior's attitude towards her.

"I'm sorry…" Kellis said reaching for the concubine's clenched little hands. She tried soothing them with her own. But it didn't work. Zelsi only stared at her in raw anger.

"Tell me what we did. Please? I want to know…" Kellis begged hoping that the concubine would take pity on her.

Finally her efforts paid off and Zelsi let go of her anger. She leaned forward on the bed pressing her lips against the warrior's ear. It took only seconds for her to tell Kellis what illicit act she had allowed. In fact the whole sentence was only five words.

But those five little bitty words were enough to make the warrior's eyes roll back in her head. And when Zelsi pulled away to look at her reaction, Kellis could only silently beg for forgiveness. Quickly, the warrior took the concubine's hand and gently pulled the woman against her firm body. She sought Zelsi's mouth with her own determined to make up for her earlier crude behavior.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 8

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Zelsi eagerly fell back against the bed relieved to finally be getting what she wanted from the warrior. Kellis tried to lower her body onto the concubine's but found the motion to be hard and almost painful. She sat there rubbing her hand across the base of her skull hoping for the throbbing pain to cease or at least diminish.

The woman looked up at her with an open mouth, bored eyes and large swaying breasts. Kellis desperately tried to think of any way to postpone their union. She really did feel awful about leaving the woman in a rather unfulfilled state. And she felt ashamed of her earlier actions with Zelsi. And worse then that, Kellis knew the woman was perfectly justified in her anger. The warrior had used the concubine without any thought to the woman's station in the tribe.

But despite her feelings and her desire to some how earn forgiveness, she couldn't make her body obey her mental will. She had drunk far too much and was suffering for it now. The warrior closed her eyes trying once more to get her bearings. But the room just wouldn't stop spinning.

"What are you doing?" Zelsi hissed, annoyed that Kellis seemed to be stalling for time. The warrior looked up hearing the harsh tones and tried once again to appease the woman.

"What do you want?" Kellis asked in a soft defeated whisper.

"Surprise me." The woman answered widening the berth of her legs and revealing herself to the warrior.

Kellis leaned down onto her forearms, grateful to once more, be able to rest against the comforting mattress. She studied the folds of the wet sex open before her. There was nothing surprising, shocking, or even remotely intriguing about what she was looking at. Kellis couldn't think of one warrior in the tribe who hadn't seen every single inch of Zelsi's naked body.

And looking at the bored naked woman lying beneath her, she would give nearly anything to not be in the room with her. But she knew she had a task to perform. Wetting her lips she lowered her mouth to the woman's waiting sex. This was something that she was normally good at. It was something that Zelsi had spent many long nights teaching her how to perform with perfect passion. And if there was one thing that Zelsi loved, it was a thorough tongue bath.

But tonight, she just couldn't do it. She bravely reached out with her tongue only to find her stomach suddenly swimming in nausea. Her head was aching and at the moment, she felt that it was entirely possible that she just might throw up.

"I can't do this." Kellis uttered in a defeated whisper.

"Of course you can…you just won't do this. And trust me Kellis , you won't get a second chance at this. EVER!" Zelsi said storming away from the bed.

"And Kellis, don't ever come to me again. My services are no longer available to you." The concubine screamed before she stormed out into the Lodge proudly displaying all her naked glory.

Quickly, the warrior shut the door after her departure. She knew Zelsi had left like that to cause a scene. Although giving the early black hour of the morning, she seriously doubted that the woman had much of an audience to impress with her antics.

But with her newfound solitude, Kellis discovered that she could finally give into her nausea. Rushing to the bathroom she thoroughly emptied her stomach of its contents. And then she simply hovered there on the cold tile floor.

She couldn't help but feel that she was beginning to make a mess of her life. But it was a fleeting thought. And it was one she didn't want to give much time to. She preferred to think of herself as driven and intense. She didn't like to acknowledge the fact that her real focus was on pleasure. And she finally realized that her philandering ways were starting to catch up to her.

But these were thoughts for another time. Promising herself that she would spend some time reflecting during her next moment of sobriety, the warrior finally climbed up from the floor. Right now all Kellis could think about was the dire need to rinse all smells of the concubine from her body. For some reason it seemed to be adding to her sick stomach and pounding head.

Starting the shower, she fell under the spray of water immediately feeling her body respond to the warm caress. It felt relaxing, restoring, and just about the closest thing to wonderful she had ever known. The warrior languished under the spray allowing the water to rinse away her tension. And ever so slowly, her most recent sins with Zelsi slipped right down the drain.

By the time Kellis was down showering, she felt ten times better. Walking out into the steam-filled bathroom she swiped at the mirror wanting to see her image. And once she had, she wished that she hadn't even bothered to look at all.

Her skin was pale. Her eyes were blood-shot. And her mouth looked crooked and stained under the dim bathroom light. She looked like a drunk. And Kellis lurched in shame. She was her tribe's premier warrior. She had too much dignity and responsibility to behave like this. And looking at her own sallow appearance, she knew she had some major life changes to make.

She probably would have stood there for several lengthy minutes giving herself a thorough chastisement, but her thoughts were interrupted. She heard the quiet opening and closing of her hotel suite door. And knew that the heron had finally returned.

Immediately, she wanted to rush right out in the long living room of the suite. She didn't want Elila to walk into the bedroom. The heron would instantly know what had happened. The sheets were crumpled and lying in a twisted mess. The room reeked of the stale odor of failed sex. And she would take one look at the warrior's pallid appearance and know everything without ever having to hear a word.

Kellis wasn't a fool. She knew all too well that her choice of sexual partners had hurt the girl. Elila wore her heart on her sleeve. And the hardest thing was that Kellis truly did share her feelings. She just couldn't give the heron the type of relationship that she wanted, not yet anyways.

The warrior knew that in many ways this situation was unfair to the heron. She would spend long days with the girl exchanging thoughts and feelings. They formed intimate bonds of deep friendship. And the sexual tension was becoming so thick that Kellis worried she might never be able to penetrate it.

But at night, Kellis would leave the girl for a passionate night with a woman. She would seek out the company of anyone who wasn't Elila. And she would make love to them all the while wishing that it was the heron in her arms.

Remembering to grab her robe, she darted into the living room trying to stop the heron's movements. But it was too late. The wide eyes of the girl before her were far too open and revealing. She had seen the bedroom. And she easily recognized all the signs. The only saving grace for the golden warrior was that the girl standing before her wasn't Elila. It was her friend Yamina. And Kellis couldn't begin to understand what she was doing up and about at this rather late hour.

Even though she had slammed the bedroom door shut behind her, Kellis knew it had been far too late. She knew that Yamina had already mentally captured every crumpled sheet and every stale odor. And she knew Yamina. The girl had a duty to tell the heron everything she had seen.

Kellis tried not to appear like some sort of guilty child. But it was hard, because that was exactly how she felt. And Yamina wasn't making it any easier. She kept staring at her with this cold and distant gaze that was unsettling even the battle-weary warrior.

"I came to see if Elila was here." Yamina whispered in a soft voice. The statement seemed rather ridiculous now even to her naïve ears. From the looks of the warrior and the suite room it was quite obvious that the heron was still missing…

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For the first time Kellis really looked at the girl. Yamina was fully dressed, just like she had been earlier at the Gallion. Yamina hadn't even gone to bed yet. And Kellis was beginning to wonder why.

"She's not here. I uh, actually thought she might be with you." Kellis answered. Since she had obviously hoarded the room so that she could be alone with Zelsi, the warrior hadn't given much thought to Elila. She just assumed the girl would have decided to discreetly sleep down in Yamina's room.

"She's not. I haven't seen her since she left the Lodge. And that was nearly 7 hours ago. I'm worried. I've looked everywhere for her. She's not here." Yamina answered genuinely concerned for the whereabouts of her best friend.

She had dutifully sat-up in the near empty lobby of the tribe's hotel hoping to see the girl return. But after hours sweeped by and there was still no sign of Elila, she began to think that she had simply missed her. She had checked the hotel from top to bottom in search of the heron. But she had found nothing. And this was the last stop on her search.

After everything Elila had seen this evening, Yamina doubted that she would have returned to the warrior's room. But she had to try. She had simply searched everywhere else.

Yamina tried to stop her hands from shaking but she couldn't help it. She was too nervous. After everything she had been through with the Midali, things like this bothered her. She was too frightened to walk down a darkened hall by herself. But Elila had trudged off into the blackness of the night without a single backward glance. And Yamina just couldn't stop herself from fearing the worst.

"What do you mean she left the Lodge? Where did she go?" Kellis asked mildly confused by the information given to her.

Elila's parents had turned their daughter's care and protection over to the warrior when they had left for the Gallion village. She was supposed to be taking care of Elila. And that meant keeping track of the girl's whereabouts.

"I don't know where she went. She just left. I think she took the last transport." Yamina answered with a blank face and large eyes.

"She just left without a word? That doesn't make any sense. Did you two have a fight or something?" Kellis asked trying to hedge her words cautiously. She didn't want to offend Yamina but she couldn't think of any other reason why Elila would have just disappeared.

"No we didn't have a fight! But she was very upset." Yamina snapped at the warrior. She took a few steps back trying to distance herself from Kellis. She knew it was poor etiquette to speak to a changeling in the manner that she just had. But she couldn't help her harsh tones. She was tired. She was worried. And she was angry with the warrior for even suggesting such a thing.

She and Elila had known each other since they were nothing but toddlers. And not once in the lengthy decades of the friendship had they ever had a fight. Unlike the warrior, Yamina cared very deeply for the heron.

"What was she upset about Yamina?" Kellis asked in a low hiss. The warrior knew she shouldn't get angry with the girl for taking a short tone with her. But the jungle cat's ego was already suffering. Zelsi had knocked her down a few pegs and she was feeling rather defensive.

Yamina wanted to blurt out the truth in lurid angry details. But she knew she had to choose her words carefully. And deep down, she really didn't know if Elila would want the warrior to know what she walked in on.

"She saw you and Zelsi together." Yamina answered softly.

Immediately the warrior walked over to the nearest wall. She needed something to lean against. At the moment, she just wasn't sure that she could hold herself up.

The warrior's mind fell into a numbing pain when she thought of what all this really meant for her. Elila must have been the girl in the steam room. She must have seen her with Zelsi. And worst, the naïve heron must have witnessed the very act of indecency that had caused the concubine to loose all her patience for the warrior.

Kellis was already ashamed of her actions. She was embarrassed by her drunkenness. She was humiliated by her rude behavior. And she was deeply regretful of the things she had done with Zelsi in the heat of her intoxicated stupor. They were lewd, indecent, and perhaps even a bit cruel. And it was certainly something that Kellis had never wanted Elila to know of.

"What did she see?" Kellis asked from her slumped position against the wall.

"She didn't give me details." Yamina answered honestly. She was at least pleased to see the warrior was showing some remorse for her illicit behavior.

"And so she just took off?" Kellis asked wondering where the heron could have gone off too.

But Yamina only nodded her head. Even though she knew there was nothing that anyone could do to find Elila, she was glad that she had at least told Kellis of her friend's disappearance. The transport would start in a few short hours and if Elila hadn't returned by then. She knew the tribe would go looking for her.

"I'm sure she's fine." Kellis answered feeling fairly confident in her belief. Elila was from the swamp. And there wasn't much she hadn't seen or done. Even though the Gallion village was large and filled with the fiercest predators in the entire kingdom, she was certain the girl could take of herself.

"Well, if she isn't back with the first transport you will look for her won't you?" Yamina asked displeased with the warrior's lack of concern. The girl couldn't help how she felt about such things. She always preferred to be cautious.

"I can't. I have the awards ceremony in the morning. But if she's not back by the end of the banquet, I'll send someone to look for her." Kellis whispered hoping that it wouldn't come to that.

If it did, she would have a very displeased teammate on her hands. As the team's alpha she would be expected to be at the ceremony all day. She couldn't leave to go track down the missing heron. She would have to send someone. And nothing could make a jungle cat more displeased then having to miss a party.

"Yamina, don't worry. I'm sure that Elila is fine. You should get some sleep before the banquet." Kellis said quietly dismissing the girl from her presence.

And the girl complied turning to leave without another word said. But what her voice didn't communicate her body did. She was angry and worried and Kellis knew that she had done nothing to put the girl at ease.

Once she was alone again, she walked over to the windows staring out into the blinking lights of the city below. And now she knew that Elila was somewhere out there. And at the moment, all she could do was hope for the girl's safe return.

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"Do you mind if I join you?" Elila looked up to see a rather large shark towering over top of her. She shrugged her shoulders not sure what to make of her sudden guest.

Elila couldn't help but stare; she had never seen a hybrid quite so large. The shark was at least 7 ft. tall and had the massive body structure to go with it. Her hair was short, with the blonde mane cut right above her shoulders. Her hair was a dark shade of blonde, almost a light brown.

But her eyes were the same piercing blue that the heron had come to expect from the Midali. The shark was obviously dressed for comfort and not style in her pair of loose fitting pants and comfortably large t-shirt. Letting her eyes trail down the lines of the shark's body, the girl couldn't help but notice how smooth the surface of her skin appeared. Pedryn's body, with which Elila had an unfortunate familiarity, was covered in the gray lines and pronounced wedges of long expansive firm muscle. Looking at her new acquaintance Elila could only assume the shark either had a natural strength, or she never participated in the hunt. Since Elila had a hard time believing the latter she could only assume the shark's very height gave her the only added advantage that she needed.

"I'm Zeranna." She said introducing herself. She smiled trying to put the girl at ease.

But instead, the gesture only ended up revealing her rows of large jagged teeth. Elila's eyes widened in a natural born terror. And the shark clasped her hand over her mouth in apparent embarrassment.

"I'm Elila." The heron answered wondering if her new acquaintance was simply curious about her appearance.

"Well, I don't want to bother you or anything. It's just that I wanted to see if you were okay. I found you on the beach tonight." Zeranna explained still trying to put the small girl at ease.

"That was you? Oh, thank you…" Elila responded with genuine feeling. But the shark only shrugged her shoulders not wanting to take credit for an act of common decency.

"So, you're all better now?" Zeranna asked noticing the wrap on the girl's wrist.

"Well, aside from this, yeah…" Elila answered feeling embarrassed all over again.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to you?" Zeranna asked truly interesting in the girl's evening.

"I was hunted by a cobra." Elila answered letting the words wash over both of them.

And for a second, Elila thought she saw something akin to sympathy in Zeranna's eyes. But she quickly let the thought pass. She knew deep down that sympathy, empathy, and sorrow just weren't things that sharks could ever feel. Despite her rather ardent wishes to the contrary.

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She listened to them without notice. She felt a slight amount of guilt for her eavesdropping. But she was so terribly curious.

It was an odd scene, one that she had never really expected to encounter. Here they were, a shark and heron sharing a meal like it was the most natural thing in the world. Zeranna was being kind, polite, and even a bit witty. Elila was being friendly, forthcoming, and even pleasant. And as she listened on, Pedryn couldn't be more stupefied.

Here they were, making friends with each other like there weren't hundreds of good reasons not too. Pedryn winced trying to stop the strange flow of her own feelings. She had to admit that she was feeling a bit jealous at the ease between them. And even she was unable to explain her own instinctual response.

The alpha shark didn't know how long she stood there. She wasn't too concerned about guarding her position from them. Her hearing could easily detect their vocal vibrations from miles away.

But somewhere in between their pleasantries she lost track of time. Her mind drifted off to the strange place of indecisiveness and doubt. She mulled over the issue of past and present. She wondered about all the black, white, and gray areas of honesty and deception. She thought of what she wanted, her needs and those of her tribe.

And then she thought of Elila, the only woman she had ever truly intentionally hurt. Pedryn found what she wanted somewhere between all the confusion of right and wrong. Somewhere in the very heart of her conflicting emotions held the very answer that she had known all along.

As much as she wanted to, Pedryn knew she couldn't tell Elila the truth. There were far too many reasons that her silence must take precedence. And besides all that, she knew honesty wouldn't really get her what she wanted. Telling the heron the entire truth wouldn't earn her forgiveness. Even though the thought of unburdening her soul to the gentle girl's ear did sound tempting, Pedryn knew she had to restrain herself. With honesty, there was too much for her and the Midali to lose.

So, she remained hidden as Elila walked back to her room. Pedryn listened to the pleasant goodbyes between the heron and the shark. And as she walked down to her quarters, she tried desperately not to think about all that she'd lost during that one night with Elila.

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The heron stood mutely in front of the long bay window. Her hair, though dirty and unkempt, framed her lithe body in a perfect fashion. She seemed unruly and wild. Like at any moment she would break free from the bonds of gravity and take off into the early air of dawn.

"Elila?" The heron stiffened hearing the intrusion of another's voice. And instantly she recognized the tones.

She turned keeping her back to the sunlit window. She couldn't help her nervous glances down the hall. She didn't see a way out. And it would appear that much to her horror, she was very much alone with Pedryn.

"I didn't mean to startle you." The shark said softly watching Elila's attempts to stay calm. Pedryn recognized a visible effort at ease when she saw it.

The girl had locked her arms tightly around the front of her body. Her body weight shifted uneasily from leg to leg. And her teeth had suddenly firmly embedded right into her thick bottom lip.

But Pedryn could swear that she could almost hear the girl's thoughts. She knew Elila was suppressing a dire need to scream, to run, and maybe even to cry. She could see that her ability to stand silent and face the shark was taking a great deal of effort. And it was an effort that Pedryn could deeply respect. The girl was trying to be brave, to move forward, and accept all the strange circumstances of her life.

"What are you doing out here?" Pedryn asked softly not attempting to move any closer to the girl.

She knew that Elila must feel trapped down at the narrow of the end of the hall. And in essence, the heron was very much her captive audience. But she had no intention of hurting the girl. At the moment, the heron was quite safe. Even so, Pedryn remained at a safe distance. She just didn't see any reason to unnecessarily frighten the girl.

"I couldn't sleep. I wanted to watch the sunrise. It's quite a view." Elila managed to say through a rather clear voice.

The heron glanced out the window feeling a bit of envy for the Midali tribe. From what she had seen, The Fluid had to be one of the premier establishments in the entire Gallion Village. The place was not only enormous but also equipped with all the amenities that anyone could possibly desire. And the view was simply spectacular. Even though Elila had a deep seeded fear of the water, even she couldn't deny the raw natural beauty of the Gallion Ocean.

"The transport will start running again soon. I came to see if you feel well enough to travel." Pedryn said trying to remain cautious with her words.

She was glad to see Elila's eyes squinting to make out her form. She knew that the blinding rays of dawn were probably hampering the heron's vision. They were doing the same to her own. And she was standing far enough away the Elila shouldn't be able to pick up the small details of her behavior.

Pedryn didn't want Elila to see her eyes travel the length of her body. She didn't want Elila to know that she was memorizing every single line, curve, and sweet feminine swell. And she really didn't want Elila to see her disappointment or guilt. Pedryn didn't want the girl to suspect her motives or her darker hidden secrets.

"I guess…" Elila mumbled shrugging her shoulders.

The shark studied her more closely and it didn't take her long to realize that Elila was hiding something. The young heron's heart had suddenly sped up in her chest. And her eyes rolled to the side, as if she were trying to decide on something.

"What is it?" Pedryn asked wondering if there was some injury that she had missed.

"It's nothing… I'm sure I can travel. I'm just a bit over-tired I guess. You know, my body's exhausted but I'm too wound up to sleep." Elila answered nervously crossing her arms over her nearly exposed chest.

Pedryn took another look at the girl's attire and wondered where she had acquired it. The shark knew that female jungle cats tended to dress more conservatively. But the shark didn't feel it was her place to comment. Besides, she rather enjoyed staring at the heron's fleshy display.

"You'll be fine, as long as you didn't come in contact with any venom." Pedryn said softly keeping her hands demurely at her side.

The girl seemed to be growing more comfortable in her presence. Her body seemed a bit less tense. And her heart rate had dropped nearly back to normal. And for the briefest of moments, Pedryn actually felt insulted. She was a very strong, lightning-fast shark hybrid. It was only natural for her to be feared. But yet, the small heron seemed to be adapting to the obvious threat of the shark's mere presence. And Pedryn was beginning to wonder why.

"This question might be a bit odd but I need to know if you kissed the snake." Pedryn said well aware that she was probably the last person that Elila wanted to have this conversation with.

"No, why?" Elila asked fully remembering all contact that she had engaged in with Licara.

"I just needed to know if you had had any exposure to her venom." Pedryn answered a bit relieved that the snake hadn't taken any romantic physical liberties with the heron.

"Well, I don't know. I mean…I was trying to get away from her and I bit her. It was pretty hard. I broke the skin and well… she bled a lot." Elila answered recalling her earlier escape antics.

Pedryn only stared at the heron for a few moments letting the information fully filter into her mind. And when she was finally able to conceive of a mental image, she had to bite back her laughter. She was deeply amused by the thought of Elila turning the tables on a proud cobra warrior.

"Well, snake hybrids can carry high levels of toxicity in their blood streams. You could have been exposed to a hemotoxin of some kind. But it wouldn't be lethal. You don't have any other symptoms do you?" Pedryn asked hoping that the girl hadn't contracted anything dangerous from the snake.

"I'm probably just getting a cold or something. But my throat really hurts. It feels like someone is shoving pins right down into my neck." Elila answered rubbing the front of her throat in emphasis.

Truthfully, over the last hour the pain had grown quite intolerable. The girl had drunk glass after glass of water without so much as alleviating a single ache. She had even tried letting a few ice cubes dissolve their freezing liquid right down into her throat, but still nothing. The worst was that the pain only seemed to be getting worse.

"Oh…" Pedryn muttered slowly walking towards the girl.

The girl stiffened when she saw the shark walking towards her. But she tried not to look nervous. She knew all too well how excited frightened prey could be to a shark.

"Can you roll your eyes to the side?" Pedryn asked softly standing very close the girl.

She could hear the beat of Elila's heart. She could see the slight tremble of her hands. And she could even feel the heron's cool breath against her chest.

Immediately, Pedryn visibly flinched when she felt her blood lust begin to rise. Pedryn didn't know how Elila did it, but the mere sound of her heart could literally drive her into a frenzy. Pedryn knew that somehow, she would have to control her boiling lust. Because after everything that had already passed, the Midali just couldn't afford another incident of violence…

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But obediently, Elila did as she requested. And instantly the shark could see the telltale signs of illness setting in. The girl's eyes were streaked with the faint yellow lines of poison. Pedryn could only assume that she had contracted it from a hemotoxin in the snake's blood.

"What is it?" Elila asked easily reading the lines of concern etching across the shark's normally stoic features.

"It's nothing serious. It seems that the snake's blood doesn't agree with you." Pedryn answered deciding that it would be prudent at this juncture to step away from the girl.

"The pain? Will it go away?" Elila asked, once more scratching at the bottom of her throat.

"If you like we can give you something here before you return to your tribe. It should alleviate the pain long enough for you to be treated by your own healers." Pedryn answered wrapping her arms across her body. She didn't know why but at the moment she felt particularly self-conscious.

"Yes, I would appreciate it." Elila answered suddenly realizing that she would be expected at yet another ceremony today. She really didn't know how she was going to make it through the day. She was exhausted. Every single inch of her body was aching. And her throat was so sore; it felt like she had swallowed molten lava.

"Stop and see Baysha on your way out. I'll make sure she gives you something." Pedryn said slowly dipping her head to face only the ground.

Elila stared for a moment wondering if she should say something. It seemed that Pedryn was wrestling with a thought or idea. The shark remained stoically silent refusing to meet her gaze. The heron could see the tension jumping off every line of the hybrid's body and she couldn't help but wonder what was vexing her so.

But then Pedryn looked up and stared into her eyes. She opened her mouth as if to tell her something of importance. Elila watched her brow furrow and her eyes wrinkle into tight lines of concentration. And then, apparently thinking better of it the shark simply turned and began to walk away.

Elila found the situation odd to say the least. She had been expecting a least a simple 'good-bye.' She felt that the very history of their relationship would rate common courtesy. And then she realized that somewhere between the silence and tension, Pedryn had said goodbye. She just hadn't used her voice.

"Pedryn?" Elila called out stopping the retreating form of her one time tribal enemy.

The shark stopped, turning to face her. She could see Pedryn's body bracing in tension. Like she was worried that Elila was finally going to say all the things she had been hoping to avoid. And she could see how very much the shark wanted desperately to avoid unpleasantness between them. She wanted to pretend to be strangers. And in this small respect, Elila would honor her wishes.

"Uhm about my wrist, tha…" Elila called out trying to expresses common gratitude for her rescue and subsequent health care. She was only doing what her tribal council born manners demanded. And she was also dutifully playing her part in their false show of friendliness.

But Pedryn wouldn't allow it. The shark held up her hand stopping the heron from speaking. She looked pained and nearly anguished. She looked away as if searching for the right words. And Elila finally realized that a crack had formed in their mutual illusion of niceties.

"Don't ever thank me…" Pedryn managed to whisper in a harsh tone filled with pain and regret.

The heron just stood there staring after her retreating form. She watched the sunlight dancing across the shark's back and Elila suddenly felt very tired. If Pedryn could slip and give voice to the history between, then she could falter as well. And this was the very last place Elila wanted to be found by fear.

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The soft knock on her door roused her from the few peaceful moments of sleep that she had actually enjoyed. At first, she was concerned that it was Zelsi coming back to further humiliate her. But the knock was too gentle and demure to belong to the angry concubine. Kellis stood with her hand on the knob for several seconds debating what action to take. She suspected that it was Yamina or Elila. And at the moment, she just didn't have the strength to deal with either girl.

Finally she felt so terribly ridiculous that Kellis forced herself to open the door. She was warrior. She couldn't be afraid of conflict, no matter what form it arrived in.

But when she opened the door, she was more then happy to see her best friend standing on the other side. Melaryn was handsomely dressed and obviously ready to attend the awards ceremony. And from the smirk she found lighting up her friend's face, she knew that Melaryn obviously knew everything.

"So, are you going to invite me in? Or do I have to strip down first?" Melaryn asked gently teasing her warrior friend.

"I don't need this." Kellis answered a bit more sternly then she normally would have. But she couldn't help her harsh tone or foul mood. She had just experienced one painfully long night.

"That's not very nice, especially since I went out of my way to bring you breakfast." Her fellow warrior said, playfully holding out a bag of freshly spiced meats.

Instantly, Kellis felt her stomach lurch in hunger. She hadn't eaten well. She had mostly just gorged herself on rollen juice. And now that the light of day and once again returned, she was beginning to feel the pangs of undernourishment.

"Sorry…" Kellis answered sheepishly. She stepped aside allowing the other warrior into the room.

Eagerly, she took the bag foraging for whatever meat wouldn't bother her still queasy stomach. Deciding on a piece of spiced chicken, she watched as Melaryn searched her shambled suite with her studious gaze. Her eyes seemed to focus on the bedroom interior and Kellis realized that she still hadn't bothered to clean up the evidence of her most recent encounter.

"So, you want to tell me what happened here last night?" Melaryn said perching on the couch next to her friend.

Kellis looked the other warrior over from her carefully braided hair to her spit-polished cream boots. Melaryn was always the very picture of detailed grooming, composure, and responsibility.

Today, she had expertly braided her medium length platinum locks into a braid that a hurricane wind couldn't even unravel. Her porcelain skin was pure and unblemished. Melaryn had the rather annoying feature of always looking like she had just stepped out of warm shower. Even in the heat of battle she was never sweaty or tired. She was always perfectly made-up with her large baby blue eyes and creamy milk smile.

Though she was a little shorter and smaller then Kellis, she was an excellent warrior nonetheless. Her skills lay more in the planning of the battle then the actual execution. She was devoted to her work, responsible, and deeply loyal to the tribe. And if it hadn't been for Kellis' rather exception physical abilities, Melaryn would easily have taken the role of team alpha.

Kellis stared at her friend's tanned leather halter and matching pants, and instantly winced in regret. She had forgotten to bring her formal attire for the ceremony. She had been much more concerned with the proper armor for the Gallion. Kellis threw down her food in a pique of anger when she realized that the tribe's premier warrior would show up rather underdressed.

"What is it?" Melaryn asked noticing the sudden fowlness that had settled into her friend's mood.

"I forgot to get my clothes." Kellis snapped pointing to her friend's perfectly cleaned outfit in emphasis.

"Boy, this certainly hasn't been your trip has it?" Melaryn teased as she got up to put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. She felt Kellis wince under her touch and wondered if maybe now was in an inopportune time to start discussing the mishap with the concubine.

"Don't worry. I have an extra outfit back in my suite. You can wear it." Melaryn said trying to placate her friend.

Kellis studied her friend's smaller form and knew she was about to look ridiculous. Not only was Melaryn smaller then her, but she also had one rather noticeable asset that was quite a bit larger. And then, Kellis looked down at her own long legs wondering how high the pants would ride up on her.

"The shirt is going to hang off me." Kellis whispered glancing from her chest to Melaryn's. Her friend didn't answer. She only laughed and gave her a gentle pat on the back in some sort of silent form of support. Kellis could only watch her go and wonder how in the world she would ever make it through this day.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 9

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She was all alone in a crowd of people. They all saw her. They all knew who she was. But none of them spoke to her. They couldn't. She was beneath them all.

Compared to them Yamina felt inferior, weak, ugly, and even a tad freakish. She hated people, crowds, bright lights and loud noises. She'd grown frightened and timed every since the attack.

And they seemed to sense it. They would zero in on her like she was some sort of weakened prey. They would taunt and tease until she was reduced to only the slightest whimper of tears. And even then they wouldn't stop.

So, she had taken to the only thing she could do. She had become a master at hiding. They would walk around her chatting and flirting with each other. They would laugh and giggle totally unaware that she was even in the room. She had learned to hide in plain sight. She had learned to become invisible to their parties and their fun. She had learned how to stay safe on the outside.

Yamina sat at a small quiet dark table in the very corner of the Lodge's dining facility. She hurriedly ate her breakfast wanting to be far from the rest of the tribe as quickly as possible. But she couldn't help but be a bit interested in the events going on around her.

At the long table right behind her sat Narlene and all her devoted followers. They felt that it was their personal mission to reward the tribe's warriors in all the special ways that might be overlooked at today's ceremony. They weren't sexual by any means. They were playful teasing acts of flirtation designed to garner the attention of a woman's selected warrior.

The timid girl sat and strained to hear about everything they had planned for the day's events. Yamina couldn't even stop herself from stealing the occasional glance through her peripheral vision. It was all too fascinating and yet sickening all at once.

They would gush over the events of the battle. All 12 of the women present had even picked out a warrior for their very own. They discussed all important things like hair length, skin tone, breast size, muscle definition, and of course financial stability. Yamina intently listened as they all exchanged gossip on which warrior's were ready for marriage and which were destined to remain single.

Then she listened as they discussed the special gifts they would be presenting at today's ceremony. They had all apparently spent months designing and then hand making jewelry for each warrior in the tribe. Everyone woman present had apparently been looking forward to this very day all year.

And Yamina had to refrain from gasping aloud when Narlene went into great detail about the necklace she had made for Kellis. Apparently, it was emerald green with tiny hand-etched inscriptions that were only to be seen by the warrior's eyes. Though all her friends playfully prodded her, Narlene flatly refused to tell them what she had written out for the warrior.

Yamina couldn't help but think that Narlene's enthusiasm and romantic hopes were a bit misplaced, especially after last night. Even she knew what had happened between the warrior and Zelsi. And if she knew, that meant that the entire tribe had to be crawling with the information.

Carefully, Yamina cupped her seeping hot cup of tea and gave another thought to her missing friend. For the first time she was glad that Elila was not with her. She wouldn't have wanted her friend to hear the way that Narlene was talking about Kellis. She wouldn't want Elila to hear all of the women enthusiastically agree that Narlene had managed to capture the golden warrior's heart. And of course, she was terribly glad that the heron had been spared the scene of Zelsi storming away from the warrior's bedroom in a naked rage. She was glad that Elila had missed it all. But she could only hope that the heron was somewhere safe.

"You know Narlene, I don't think any of us question your opinions. We're your friends. We support you no matter what. But you have to admit that there was a rather indiscreet incident with Zelsi last night. And we all just want to know how you're going to handle it?" Yamina listened to the rambled words of Shaenabel.

From her seat she couldn't see the girl, but she knew that Shaenabel was somewhere to her distant left. Yamina instantly leaned forward in her seat also very curious as to what Narlene intended to do. The whole situation had to be embarrassing for her. Everyone knew that Kellis had rather crudely dumped her for time alone with the concubine.

"Well, there's not much I can do. I mean, nothing that happened last night changes how I feel for Kellis. I still believe that we're meant to be together. I mean these things happen, right?'' Yamina could practically hear Narlene shrugging her shoulders.

There was nothing but confusion and uncertainty lacing through her voice. And it was obvious to Yamina that she was looking to her friends for some sort of support. It was like Narlene desperately wanted someone to rationalize the warrior's actions. She wanted someone to tell her that it was okay to still feel deeply for the warrior. She wanted to hear that her love was somehow justified.

But instead, her friends only gave her silence. They just couldn't answer what only the warrior's mouth could explain. And from the strangled sounds of coughs, nervous whispers, and repetitive tapping Yamina knew that everyone was quite uncomfortable by all that had happened.

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She watched them intently, as one might study a phenomenon or earth-shattering event. But they were neither shocking nor terribly important. They were just a heron and shark walking together in amicable camaraderie.

But to Pedryn, they were everything. She couldn't tear her eyes off them as they wandered through the lobby looking for the healer. She saw Zeranna playfully teasing Elila. And she saw the heron laugh with a wide uncensored smile.

And for the briefest of seconds, Pedryn thought that she might weep. She hadn't cried in so many long years she couldn't understand why the feeling was suddenly overcoming her. Staring at the heron had reduced her to some sort of quivering ball of emotions. All these feelings were about to coming rushing out that she had managed to hide and bury for so very long.

The very last thing she wanted was to actually start 'feeling' again. Her life had been so much simpler since she had decided to sever that part of herself. She had become cool, calm and efficient. She had become the perfect embodiment of a ruthless hunter. And she wasn't about to give up her carefully constructed world of silent feeling. Pedryn knew she would literally come apart if she did.

"I thought I would find you here." Carielle whispered joining her cousin in the lofted darkened alcove of the Fluid's lobby.

Carielle put a reassuring hand on Pedryn's shoulder thinking that she understood the source of her cousin's pain. And for just a moment, Pedryn thought that maybe she did. It was possible that her gentle cousin sympathized with all the painful and powerful emotions that were scouring through her heart.

But Pedryn looked down at the sound of the lobby doors whooshing open. She watched Zeranna leave. Then she watched Elila walk out of her life forever. And she could only stand there and let it happen. She couldn't stop the actions from unfolding, no matter how much she wanted to.

She felt crestfallen and berated, like she had just lost something terribly important and special. When Carielle turned to face her, she could see relief in her cousin's eyes. And that's when she knew with absolute certainty that Carielle had no idea how she was feeling. But as Pedryn felt her loss with a tremendous grief she realized how terribly prudent it would be to keep all her twisted thoughts and feelings to herself.

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Elila sat next to the large shark feeling a bit cramped in her seat. The first transport was brimming with people, as she expected it would be. So, that left her no other option then to somehow try to squeeze onto a rather small bench next to a very huge shark.

And as the transport tossed and turned over its path, Elila was thrown across Zeranna's body more times then she cared to count. And each time her eyes welled up in fear and her body screamed in tension.

It wasn't Zeranna's fault. The changeling had been nothing but kind and docile with her. But Elila just wasn't ready to get this up close and personal with a shark hybrid.

"Still feeling sick?" Zeranna asked noticing the way that the heron reacted every time the transport tossed them about.

"Oh yeah…" Elila answered thinking that was as good excuse as any for her strange reaction.

Truthfully, the heron was feeling much better. Whatever the healer had given her seemed to work miracles in a matter of moments. The soreness in her throat had quickly dissipated. But Elila had been warned the effects were only temporary. She would have to find the healer at her own tribe as soon as she returned.

"I bet you're relieved to finally be going home. I mean after the night that you've had." Zeranna commented obviously assuming that was the reason for the heron's quiet mood.

Elila glanced at her making the formal attempt to briefly smile. The shark couldn't be more wrong. Now that she was finally going home after what seemed like the longest night of her life, Elila couldn't be more unsettled. She knew that Yamina was probably worried sick. But she couldn't help but wonder if Kellis even knew that she had been gone.

"I bet you have a mate wondering where are you." Zeranna asked trying to discover if Elila was married. It's not that she was interested in the heron. It was only her sheer curiosity that prompted the question.

"Oh, I'm not married." Elila answered watching the Gallion Village from her moving seat high above the treetops.

"Really? Well, what about an intended then? I imagine that you have warriors lining up to date you." Zeranna asked trying to get the heron to open up. Even though they had just met, she could tell that something was bothering Elila. And she really did want to help.

"No, I'm afraid I don't have an intended. I don't date much. I'm quite single." Elila responded only half paying attention to the line of questions being clumsily thrown in her direction.

She knew that Zeranna was only trying to be nice. But her thoughts had already turned to the rather heartbreaking homecoming she was about to receive. And Elila was quite certain that mere banter wasn't going to be enough to pull her out of her funk.

"Oh come on? There must be someone special?" Zeranna asked thinking that the heron was being less then forthright.

The shark didn't protest to know much about the standards of jungle cat beauty. But even her native ocean eyes could see that Elila was really quite attractive. She could only assume that the girl wasn't telling her the entire truth.

"No, there's no one special." Elila muttered being perfectly honest. Zeranna seemed to settle back into the bench determined to give Elila her quiet solitude. She had just taken to staring at the other passengers when the heron suddenly turned to her in a rushed bout of curiosity.

"Tell me about Pedryn?" Elila asked politely and obviously very interested.

"Pedryn? Well, she was the team's alpha at the Gallion. And she'll be the alpha of our tribe one day. You know, when her alpha steps down. Why?" Zeranna asked wondering what had spurred the sudden interested in the shark.

She hoped that Elila wasn't asking in regards to their recent chat on romance. Zeranna couldn't even pretend to know Pedryn well at all. But the one thing that she knew for absolute certainty was that the alpha shark wanted nothing to do with love or romance.

Not only that, but her tribe spread terrible gossip about Pedryn behind her back. They whispered the harshest statements of cruelties and violence. Of course Zeranna didn't listen to a word of it. She knew better then to believe the rumors of others.

"I know all that. I just mean, what's she like? You know, as a person." Elila asked not sure why the question had even come from her lips.

She shouldn't want to know anything about Pedryn. She should run away screaming at the very mention of her name. But instead, she was sitting next to one of the Midali warriors plying her for information about the alpha shark that had haunted her nightmares for endless months.

Elila looked at Zeranna's puzzled face and knew that her tone was conveying more emotion then it should. The heron also knew that she couldn't begin to tell Zeranna why she was asking. And truthfully, she didn't really know why herself. All she knew was that something about Pedryn had disturbed her. Something about the shark had unsettled the careful balance of hatred and anger that Elila had sheltered for so very long.

The heron didn't know if it was the kind touch of healing. She didn't know if it was the safe shelter from the snake. All Elila knew was that she had sensed something from Pedryn that she thought impossible. The shark wasn't the one-dimensional monster of her nightmares. Pedryn had friends, a family, and a life that apparently involved more then kidnapping and rape. And for some unspeakable reason, Elila found herself wanting to know everything there was about the strong Midali shark.

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"I look ridiculous." Kellis complained staring at her image in the mirror. Just as she suspected, Melaryn's shirt was hanging off her in a most unflattering manner. And the pants were hiked up so high on her rather long legs, Kellis felt like she was dressed for some sort of fishing expedition.

"Yeah, you do." Melaryn agreed. She didn't know how Kellis expected to walk out on stage in front of thousands of people looking like some sort of overgrown child.

"What do I do? I can't go accept the award looking like this." Kellis muttered stomping back and forth in front of her wall length mirror.

"No you can't." Melaryn answered noticing that the longer she stared the more ridiculous the outfit became.

"Thanks! Anytime you would like to actually help feel free to speak up." Kellis said pacing around the room with her hands on her hips.

"Okay, okay sorry… You're just going to have to wear your battle clothes from yesterday." Melaryn said trying to calm the warrior.

"I can't. They're covered in blood." Kellis answered slumping down onto the sofa. She noticed that the motion caused her pants to squeak in a most unflattering manner.

"Oh my god… I'm going to humiliate the entire tribe." Kellis moaned unable to even look at her friend in the eyes.

This sort of thing would never have happened to Melaryn. She was too responsible to have gone off to the Gallion without her formal attire. And her ridiculous outfit was just further example of how much control was lacking from her life.

"Hey, where's Elila?" Melaryn asked glancing around the otherwise empty hotel suite.

"Didn't you hear? She's missing." Kellis answered practically whispering into the couch.

"Missing? What do you mean?" Melaryn asked a bit harshly. And for just a moment she forgot which of them was the higher-ranking warrior.

"I'm sorry, Kellis. I didn't mean to snap at you. But you do remember that she was kidnapped not very long ago? I'm just worried about the alpha's daughter." Melaryn said hoping that her friend would forgive her brief outburst.

"Well, I don't think you have to worry. Apparently, Elila walked in on Zelsi and me. She was upset, got onto the last transport and left. I'm sure that she wouldn't just take off into the night. She must have had some place to go." Kellis explained thinking that she was going to have to have a long talk with the heron when she did finally return.

"Are you sure?" Melaryn asked unable to quell the sudden pang of worry that something awful could have happened to Elila.

"Yes, I'm sure she's fine. Now help me figure out what to wear." Kellis said with a strong conviction in her tone. With no more discussion about the heron they decided it was time to go off in search for more flattering attire. Because Kellis had to believe that if she scoured the Lodge from top to bottom, she would eventually find something suitable to wear.

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"You know I heard she went walking down the hall naked as the day she was born. She didn't even try to cover herself. She just went on her way looking for her next customer." Yamina winced as she listened to the caddy voice of Rilari.

But Yamina had to acknowledge the fact that what Rilari said was probably true. The girl was a virtual gossip factory and normally had all her facts straight. And Yamina could swear that she actually heard Narlene fuming in anger.

"I heard that she left because Kellis asked her to do something that even she wouldn't do. Can you imagine? What could be so weird that not even a concubine would do it?" Yamina heard the rather excited voice of Halauris chime in.

"Okay you guys, enough! Narlene already knows all this. She doesn't need us to repeat it." Shaenabel broke in trying to save her best friend's dignity.

"We should be trying to support her, not spreading more rumors. Now let's make a vow that nothing anyone has said here will leave this table." Shaenabel commanded to the group.

Yamina heard the whispered agreements and knew that she was in trouble. They hadn't noticed her yet. But once they did, they wouldn't like the fact that she had heard all their secret discussions. She looked around the dining hall and quickly realized that the only way out would be to walk right by their table. And that would most certainly give away her position. So, she huddled further into the corner hoping that for once, her invisibility would be her saving grace.

"Shaenabel's right. We shouldn't talk about this. But not because of how it might effect me. We shouldn't talk about it out of respect for Kellis." Narlene said finally breaking the silence around her.

"She's our premier warrior. And one day, she will probably be the alpha. Now we need to respect that." She said unaware that Yamina's ears were catching every word.

"And frankly, I have to believe that what happened last night wasn't Kellis' fault. If there is anyone to blame it's that whore Zelsi. She caused such a scene all in an effort to ruin Kellis' reputation. And frankly, I don't think we should let her get away with it. Because believe me if she did it to my Kellis, she'll do it to all the warriors that each of you love. She won't stop until she's humiliated the entire tribe. And then what? We'll be the laughing stock of the entire animal kingdom." Narlene said with an eerie calmness to her voice that unsettled Yamina.

She had always thought that there was something inherently wrong with Narlene. The girl was just too perfect in every single way. She just seemed off, like she was ready to snap at any moment. And the icy calm tones in her voice made Yamina queasy with fear. Something was definitely going on with that woman.

"She's right. I've seen how Zelsi looks at my hybrid. She wants her for her own. And I'm not going to let that happen." Halauris said taking her friend's words to heart.

"You guys, Narlene is right. We have to do something. We can't let Zelsi get away with this." Shaenabel chimed in with a strange conviction in her tone.

"But how do we start? What do we do?" Yamina heard an unidentifiable voice asked from far down on the table.

She could practically hear the wheels spinning in Narlene's mind. She wondered if anyone of these women really possessed the raw nastiness to truly hurt Zelsi. But Yamina could easily see her own isolation as testament to their indifferent cruelty. And ever so slightly, Yamina inched closer to the table. She was dying to know what revenge Narlene would dream up.

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"What do you mean? You can't possibly be serious?" Carielle screamed at her cousin. She didn't care that she was questioning Pedryn's authority. It was quite clear that her cousin was making a serious error in judgment.

"I'm quite serious. And YOU will do as your told!" Pedryn yelled back, locking them away in her private quarters.

"Pedryn think about what you're saying. If we don't tell the alpha we'll be committing a serious crime." Carielle screamed unable to calm her nerves.

She had been nothing but anxious and on edge ever sing Elila had shown up at their front door. And she really didn't see how hiding the girl's presence would do anyone any good. But Pedryn seemed adamant that her alpha not find out that the girl had been amongst them.

"At least tell me why." Carielle said giving up her anger long enough to try a different approach.

"I am not sure what to say." Pedryn answered honestly.

She really didn't know how to explain her seemingly irrational motives. She just didn't want Elila presence to become common knowledge. Pedryn didn't want to have to share her secret with anyone, least of all her alpha.

"Please respect my wishes." Pedryn said softly leaving the room before another word could be said.

Carielle stared at the floor realizing that she had just been put in an impossible situation. Not only was Pedryn her superior, but she was also family. There were many good reasons why she should give into Pedryn's request. But for some reason, the whole thing just seemed off to her. Carielle began nervously wringing her hands as she realized that there was a lot more going on then her cousin was willing to tell her.

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"All right, well we'll just have to put something together from the clothes that you brought." Melaryn said calmly.

Kellis slumped on the couch in open disgust. They had searched the entire Lodge. They had asked every single warrior in the tribe, but no one had anything that would fit her tall body.

"I can't believe this." Kellis muttered trying to suppress the urge to bang her head into the nearest wall.

"Hey, this is not our fault. If you weren't so oddly shaped this wouldn't be a problem." Melaryn answered trying desperately to lighten the mood.

She knew it wasn't the clothes that were really bothering her friend. It was everything else that had happened. And if Kellis didn't pull it together soon, the awards ceremony was certainly not going to be very festive.

"What's in here?" Melaryn asked finding a sealed garment bag in the closet.

"I don't know. It must be Elila's." The warrior answered lying back down on the sofa.

"There's a note." Melaryn said disregarding the scrawled handwriting for the time being. Instead, she opened the bag revealing the warrior's forgotten formal attire.

"Uh Kellis?" She asked trying to figure out if what she held in her hands was indeed what they had been searching for.

"That's mine, where did you find it?" Kellis asked shocked and relieved all at once. She knew that she had left it at home. So she had no idea how it had just managed to appear in her closet.

"It was hanging in there." Melaryn shrugged handing the needed clothes to the warrior.

"Okay, let's see." Melaryn muttered unfolding the note.

"It says, 'Kellis I knew you would forget this. Good luck on your speech.' It's from Elila." Melaryn called out to her friend hurriedly changing in the other room.

"What, it's from Elila?" Kellis asked ripping the note from her friend's hand.

Melaryn looked over Kellis' form and knew why all the women went crazy for her. She was the epitome of beauty and feline grace. Not only that, but in her formal tanned leathers every single part of her body appeared sexual and full.

"I can't believe she did this. I wonder how she even got it." Kellis mused thinking that Elila must have picked her clothing up from the tannery.

"Mmh, she's a nice girl…thoughtful, kind, even attractive. So, tell me again why you two aren't married?" Melaryn asked rather tired of her friend's philandering ways.

"Because I'm too busy having bad sex with paid concubines." Kellis snapped really not in the mood to discuss her personal life.

"That's right… so tell me, did Zelsi charge you extra for last night?" Melaryn asked thinking that what Kellis had received had to come at a high price.

"Does everyone know?" Kellis screamed feeling the humiliation return full force.

"About what you did in the steam room? Oh yes, everyone knows." Melaryn said with total conviction.

"Great! Just great!!!" Kellis screamed stomping away into the other room. She was growing tired of having her honor continually dragged through the mud. Looking at her polished form in the mirror, the warrior was beginning to think that it might be time to make some life changes.

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Despite her valid attempts to strain and contort in her seat, Yamina had been totally unable to decipher a single word of Narlene's plan. She had heard the other girls whispering. There had been giggling. And at one point she thought that there had even been a loud confused gasp.

But since she had no idea what they were talking about, she could only sit and wait. Her imagination was coming up with some rather interesting ideas. Given her social status Narlene certainly did wield power within the tribe. And Yamina knew that if she really went after Zelsi things for the young concubine could certainly become difficult.

She heard the loud buzzer sounding from the lobby. The hour had arrived and it was quite clearly time to go. And still, there was no sign of Elila.

Yamina watched as all of the other women in the room languidly stood and began to make their way out of the Lodge. They chatted and laughed amongst themselves while they broke off into small groups of three and sometimes four. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized that now someone might finally spot her. And if they did, they would know that she had been eavesdropping.

She closed her eyes biting back the slight wave of fear that crested in her body. Her entire youth had been an exercise in avoiding Narlene. It was no secret that the most sociable cat in the tribe liked nothing better then to make her life a place of difficult misery.

It was strange, but Yamina couldn't even remember when the hatred had begun. It was at such a young age that Narlene first singled her out. She was so very small the first time that she was pushed down onto the ground. It had all started so early, Yamina really wasn't sure that there was a time that she wasn't being tortured by them.

She kept her eyes shut as she listened to the welcomed sounds of their departure. Eventually, she realized that blinding herself to her surroundings was a rather futile gesture. But in some small way she had hoped that if she didn't look at them then they wouldn't see her.

Resolving herself to be strong, Yamina quickly blinked watching the few remaining girls filter out of the large room. And it would seem that her risky encounter had drawn to close. None of them had looked back. None of them had apparently seen her.

Breathing a sigh of relief she finally pushed herself away from the safety of her own small table. From the sounds of things they were all hurriedly leaving to catch the next transport. And Yamina knew that she should do the same. But she had no wish to ride to the ceremony in the company of these women. No she would wait for the next transport, even if it made her late.

"Going so soon?" Yamina felt her stomach lurch in fear as Narlene hurriedly stepped through the door. She walked through with Shaenebel and Halauris effectively trapping her inside the dining room. She quietly closed the door behind locking away Yamina's only chance to escape.

"I was just going…" Yamina mumbled with downcast eyes and a nervous demeanor.

"You were just what?" Narlene snapped rather loudly. She hated the way Yamina spoke, if it could even be considered that. Her tone was always so soft. Her words were even choppy and stuttered. Having to listen to the girl only made her want to lurch in rage.

"I should go… late…" Yamina mumbled. She tried to quiet her breathing. But she knew it was no use. They had already seen the strangled motions of her lungs.

"What?" Shaenabel leered not quite sure that she had heard anything that the frightened girl had muttered.

"I don't like being spied on. And I know you were listening to us." Narlene threatened pushing her way towards Yamina's body.

Yamina tried to deny the accusation. She fervently shook her head. She struggled to form the all important two-letter word. But no noise ever came past her lips. It was always like that for her when she became frightened. It was a left over side effect from her time with the shark. She lost her voice. She lost her ability to call for help. And in effect, she lost her hope.

After all, why make a noise if no one will come to her rescue. There in the blackened water her cries could have been mute for all the good that they did. If anyone had heard, her pleads for mercy had apparently fallen on cruelly deaf ears. Her throat had become raw and burned as she swallowed a near ocean of salt-water. And after some tragic time had past, she stopped screaming completely.

"What is it Yamina??? If you have something to say spit it out!" Narlene screamed pushing her into the waiting wall.

She looked at them through a hooded gaze of terror. But none of them showed any indication that they understood her intentions. Yamina truly hadn't meant to violate their privacy. She hadn't come for that. She had simply come to take her morning meal. She had gone unnoticed by them. And before she knew it, she was listening to things not meant for her to hear.

"I….I…" She tried to explain what had happened.

But as she looked into Narlene's perfectly painted eyes she doubted that anything she said would matter anyways. They had already made up their mind about her. Even Halauris who was generally considered more empathetic then the others was staring at her through a sheer wall of icy rage.

"What did you hear?" Narlene asked in a pique of fury.

Even though the things they had discussed where private it wouldn't really hurt her reputation if Yamina went about repeating them. Besides that, Narlene doubted that Yamina even had anyone to share her recently learned gossip with. Saying things in front of Yamina was like spilling one's secrets to a stuttering wall of silence. She knew that this girl couldn't really hurt her.

But all the same she hated the fact that Yamina had the nerve to sit there and listen to them like some sort of prying freak. She wouldn't tolerate anyone treating her with such a lack of respect. And she had every intention of making sure that Yamina never tried such an action again.

"I'm going to tell you this once. So I suggest you remembering very clearly what I say. I don't want to ever catch you listening in on my friends and me ever again. If I find out that you've been spying on us, I'll make sure that you live to regret it." Narlene threatened staring once more into the frightened girl's eyes. Once more she roughly shoved her back into the wall, for good measure.

Yamina watched from a desperate place of frenzy as the three girls turned away to storm out of the room. If there was one constant about Narlene it was that she always knew how to make an exit. But apparently, she wasn't finished yet with Yamina. She turned back and leered at her, once more eyeing her frightened form with a clear presence of contempt.

"Do you remember what I did to you? Do you remember how humiliated you were? I know it was years ago, but tell me Yamina, you must still remember?" She asked bringing up the very incident that had nearly sent Yamina spiraling over a ledge of frantic depression.

"Well, if I ever find out that you did this again…" Narlene said waving her arm around the room trying to make her point crystal clear.

"I'll do something so terrible that it will seem like what happened before was a birthday party." Narlene finished stomping away with her two cronies firmly in tow.

Yamina stayed right where she was. At the moment, it was only the wall that was holding her up. She couldn't live through that again. She couldn't handle another helping of Narlene's cruelly indifferent wrath. As she let her body sink into the waiting carpet of the room, Yamina knew without a doubt that anything would be better then more suffering. And some small desperate place in her mind began to wonder if the only painless solution was her very own death…

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 10

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They disembarked the transport with scant time to spare. As they approached the entrance to the Lodge Elila could practically feel its emptiness. Together, they burst through the front doors entering a room that only last night had been brimming with people. But now it was vacant, and the heron realized just how painfully late they were.

"So, this is the Lodge…" Zeranna idled taking in the unfamiliar surrounding of the rival tribe.

"It's not what I was expecting…" She mused taking in the wooden fixtures and faded carpet.

To her, the jungle cats had always exuded wealth and luxury. She had been expecting that their accommodations would be nothing short of extravagant. But instead, the Lodge was large but quite modest.

"Well, it's certainly not like the Fluid. But it has its moments." Elila answered guiding the shark towards the staircase.

Briefly, she wondered if it was proper to allow the shark such intimate access to her tribe's accommodations. But their people were no longer at war with each other, so she could see no official reason to ask Zeranna to wait outside. Besides, she had just spent the night at the Fluid. Elila supposed that although it may seem strange or improper, there was no good reason why she couldn't give the shark a quick tour.

"It's right in here." Elila said after guiding Zeranna up three flights of stairs.

She quickly pushed open the door and ushered the shark into the room that she had shared with Kellis. She took one look around and felt her face flush a deep crimson. It was no secret what had gone in this room since her absence. The raw odor of sex still lingered in the air.

One look through the bedroom door told her all she needed to know. There were crumpled sheets lying in every different direction. There were visible stains that Elila truly cared not to identify. And the young heron felt herself buckle with anger at all that had gone on in her very own room.

Oh, she had known that Kellis had apparently purchased the concubine's services for the evening. That fact alone had literally sent her out screaming into the night. But she had never dreamed that the warrior would take the whore to her bed. After all, it was only a night ago that Elila had lain beside her wrapped in the strong circle of her arms. And for some reason the heron felt dirty, almost like she had somehow been violated in a sexually phantom manner.

"Oh my…" Zeranna whispered taking in the room's surroundings with an acute clarity that Elila just didn't even begin to realize. The heron knew that shark hybrids had an infallible and potent sense of smell. She just didn't realize how very discerning Zeranna's olfactory sense was.

The shark stood there in the center of the room inhaling the rich nuance of odors. At first she thought that Elila must have entered the wrong room. But she could smell the heron's lingering presence. The salty aroma of swamp flesh radiated from the plush sofa, the clothing in the closet, and even the sheets covering the stained mattress.

Zeranna could still detect all the sour odors of sex pouring from the bedroom. She couldn't even begin to imagine what had taken place in this room to cause such a pungent odor. But she could only smell the familiar heated aroma of jungle cat pheromones.

And there, somewhere lying in small droplets she could smell blood. It wasn't fresh. And it wasn't much. But it washed over her senses like a euphoric aphrodisiac. And as she scanned the distant room with her eyes she saw the scattered red smearing on the otherwise white sheets of the bed.

"What…?" She turned to Elila asking for some sort of explanation. She couldn't imagine that someone had violated the heron's private quarters in this way. And she really didn't understand what could possibly have gone on in the bedroom to create such a mess.

"I don't know… I was sharing my rooms. The Lodge isn't big enough to accommodate the entire tribe. But I have no idea what went on in here last night." Elila snapped storming over to the closet.

The shark watched as she pulled clothing out in a rapid furry. And just as quickly the heron locked herself away in the bathroom. Zeranna stared at the silent closed door for several long moments. She hadn't meant to upset the girl.

But Zeranna supposed that she really wasn't the cause of Elila's distress. Glancing around the shambles of the room the shark could only sympathize with the heron's anger. She too would be quite upset if someone had done this sort of thing in her private rooms.

After several more minutes and several sounds of splashing water, Elila emerged from the bathroom. She looked calmer and cleaner as she stood before her shark companion. She was wearing beautiful black shoes that gave her height at least another inch. They laced high above her ankles traveling nearly to her knees. Her blue dress was long and silky, covered with printed purple lilacs. It traveled low on her body revealing a rounded firm cleavage. But even though the dress was quite long it had an equally long slit up the middle revealing a wide expanse of creamy bare inner thighs. And much to the shark's disappointment, the heron had covered her soft neck with a thick expanse of blue lace.

Zeranna took in her carefully made-up features and could only think of a near litany of questions. Elila had left her dark hair loose and free and it swept around her body in a rolling black wave. Her green eyes were misty and a bit dazed. The shark mused that it could be due to anger or even lack of sleep. But Zeranna found the effect charming nonetheless.

But the shark couldn't help staring. She didn't see a single shred of physical evidence to prove that Elila belonged to the Fasara at all. She was beginning to think that someone had made a horrible mistake.

"So, how do I look?" Elila asked twirling a bit for so the shark could see all sides.

"Like I should have taken you back to the swamp." Zeranna answered quite truthfully. The heron only laughed, wholeheartedly agreeing with her companion's statement.

"Well, other then that?" Elila asked wanting an honest opinion. After all, it wasn't everyday that she attended her tribe's Gallion award ceremony.

"Other then that? You look great. Although I did like your outfit last night better." Zeranna answered as they finally left Elila's shared rooms.

Elila flushed a bit as she remembered what she had chosen to adorn herself in for her ill-fated night out. She couldn't help but think that she had played some part in attracting the snake to her. If she hadn't gone off all alone that whole horrid incident with Licara could have been avoided.

But as Zeranna gently took her hand to escort her from the Lodge, Elila realized that she never would have met the kind shark walking by her side. Not only that, but she never would have been to the Fluid. And she certainly would never have spoken to Carielle or Pedryn.

Yet, for some reason she couldn't help but feel that there was some important reason for these events to have happened. The heron suddenly had the strange feeling that she was living out her cosmic destiny in some sort of strangely warped fashion. And as Zeranna helped her back onto the waiting transport, Elila found herself suddenly wondering where all of this could possibly lead.

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They walked into the ceremony both a bit unsettled and unsure, but for totally separate reasons. Zeranna knew that she would certainly be unwelcome at what should be a private ceremony for the Fasara tribe. And Elila knew that she was awfully late. More then that, she knew her tardiness would be seen as a grave form of disrespect.

As they walked across the marble floor of the black and gold hall, Elila winced with every click their combined shoes made. At this rate, the entire tribe would be staring at them by the time they rounded the corner. The worst was that they were only greeted by silence.

Though they hadn't truly gotten close enough to hear much of anything, Elila could tell that the ceremony was well underway. She could just picture one of the tribe's warriors standing proudly behind the giant black podium. That would be the only reason for the permeating silence of what must be a rather large crowd.

Once the warrior was done speaking of battles won at the Gallion, she would then be presented with a medallion. Elila wasn't entirely sure who presented the individual awards but she assumed that it was most likely Kellis. And once the shiny gold trophy had been firmly secured around the warrior's neck the entire tribe would erupt in cheers and applause.

Unfortunately for Elila and Zeranna, it would appear that someone was in the midst of their speech. The heron froze in the long hall stopping the motions of the shark. If they walked any closer she knew they would inadvertently disrupt the entire ceremony with the sheer sound of their walking. They would have to wait, at least for the next round of applause.

The shark looked at her with a strange expression wondering why they had suddenly stopped. Elila simply motioned for them to wait. And Zeranna silently slid to the floor getting comfortable for their shared silence.

The heron looked down and smiled brightly at the shark. Even though she had told Zeranna that she didn't need an escort all the way into the tribal ceremony room, the shark had absolutely insisted. And even though Elila doubted that the cobra was still somewhere lurking about, she appreciated the gesture nonetheless. Besides, Zeranna had confessed that she was under strict orders from Pedryn to make sure that Elila was returned safely to her tribe.

Suddenly, Elila heard the loud claps and shouting cheers that she had been waiting for. Roughly grabbing Zeranna's hand they ran at a quick pace down to the tribal room. Even though the noise of her fellow tribe mates completely covered their entrance, it took only a matter of seconds for most eyes to drift in their direction.

They rounded the black marbled corner and fled into a long hollow room. Instantly, Elila noticed how perfect the acoustic were in such a hall. Even without electric amplification one voice coming from the stage could be heard clearly above everything else.

But the heron couldn't help but be caught up in the rather enchanting surroundings of the ceremonial hall. Right away, she noticed the beautiful jungle flowers arranged in exquisite bouquets of red, gold, and orange. And Elila couldn't help but briefly stare at the flickering light of the floating candles as they languidly danced through the large blue tiled fountain.

She almost felt overwhelmed by the rich and sweet aroma of the air all around her. Looking over the flowers the heron noticed how beautiful even the stage appeared with its orange and black marbled tile. There were even beautiful ribbons falling down the sides of the stage displaying the colors of the Fasara tribe.

Her eyes drifted back through the hall and that's when she noticed the wide rows of large plush black leather seats spread out as far as the eye could see. In the very front of the hall she could see the back of Yamina's familiar form. And looking at the people seated around her, Elila realized that the members of the tribal council were all expected there.

A bit displeased, Elila realized there was no seat vacant to quietly slip into. Not knowing what else to do she silently moved to the back corner of the hall and slumped against the cool wall stretched out behind her. Zeranna followed ready to say her good-byes and make her way back to her own tribe.

But much to the shark's displeasure, Zeranna quickly found that she would be spending more time amongst the jungle cats. Before she could even whisper a few parting words to the heron, the hall grew suddenly quiet. The previously exuberant jungle cats all returned to their seats growing instantly silent.

Not wanting to cause a scene or further disrupt the ceremony, the shark leaned next to the heron trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. But despite her best efforts, Zeranna couldn't manage to make her 7-foot stature disappear. And before the shark knew what had happened, the eyes of the audience were suddenly fixated on the very back of the room.

Elila had seen it happen first. A few people in the very back of the hall had glanced her over. She knew what they were thinking. First she had been late to the Gallion. Now she was late to the awards ceremony. And being the Alpha's daughter, she really had no excuse for her behavior.

But right away the heron saw the people weren't looking at her with the usual latent scorn or contempt. They were alarmed and surprised by the presence of the towering shark standing by her side. They all looked her right in the eyes as if to silently ask for an explanation. She even saw a few people try to mouth questions in her direction. But Elila didn't read lips. And even if she did she certainly didn't care what any of them had to say.

Zeranna wanted nothing more then to turn and walk away. But she knew that would only cause more gawking stares and whispered questions. Besides, she wasn't doing anything wrong. She glanced over at Elila hoping that her tribe's silent rush of gossip wasn't upsetting her. But much to her relief, the heron seemed rather unaffected by the pointing and stares.

But somewhere in the very front of the long ceremonial hall, there was one person rather unsettled by Elila's return. And she had to resist her every temptation to run screaming from the hall. Because even though Yamina was very relieved to see the heron, she was petrified of the shark looming by her side.

At first, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. But it appeared that there was in fact a Midali warrior standing right by her friend. And the strangest thing was that Elila seemed indifferent about it. Almost like she wasn't frightened at all.

But Yamina had such a hard time believing that. She couldn't begin to understand what in the world the shark hybrid was doing there with her friend. And she desperately wanted to know where Elila had been for the entire length of a rather long night. Yet, she knew she would have to save her questions for later. Kellis had once again returned to the podium and the ceremony was still far from being completed.

And yet, Yamina found that she couldn't concentrate on a single word that came from the golden warrior's mouth. Her eyes kept stealing glances towards the back of the now darkened hall. But it didn't matter that the lights had dimmed. She could still clearly see the large towering outline of the shark off in the distance. Even the silver material of the shark's clothing glimmered brightly in the air.

But as Yamina made the conscious effort to turn back around her seat, that's when she realized what had happened. Everyone had turned in their chairs trying to catch a silent glance at the heron and her shark. And eventually, Yamina noticed that even Kellis had stopped speaking.

Looking up at the tribe's premier warrior, Yamina couldn't quite figure out what was happening. But then she clearly saw it; Kellis was boiling with rage and potent fury. And as she looked at the white-hot anger dancing across the golden warrior's features, she couldn't even begin to imagine what would happen next.

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Elila looked up as she realized that the room had suddenly grown quiet. Kellis stood behind the podium looking rather perfect in her formal leathers. But the golden jungle cat seemed to be interested in the heron and her companion. And Elila glanced at the shark nervously wondering why Kellis had stopped speaking.

But Zeranna seemed unconcerned as the entire Fasara warriors slowly trained their gaze on her. In fact, the shark seemed outright bored. And as the minutes ticked by, Elila realized that there was some sort of silent communication occurring between the shark and the jungle cat.

Their eyes were trained only on each other. And all the other warriors seemed to be waiting for some kind of queue from Kellis. But whatever they were waiting for never came.

Instead, Elila watched as Kellis focused on her with a cold hard stare. And then before the heron could even guess what had happened, Kellis returned to her duties as master of ceremony. The warrior loudly cleared her throat pulling everyone's attention back to her.

And then she dived right back into the swing of things, like nothing had ever happened. Elila looked at the shark hoping for some sort of explanation but Zeranna only shrugged her shoulders equally confused by the jungle cat's actions.

"Well, now the next award is something very dear to me. As I'm sure most of you know. Before I became the team alpha I used to fill this role in defense for out tribe…" Elila only partially listened to the voice of the golden warrior. She was too uncomfortable and tired to truly care what Kellis was saying.

Instead, she scanned the audience with her eyes looking for anything else to catch her attention. It wasn't long before her gaze tripped across the blatant stare of Narlene. Elila had no idea why Narlene would be so intrigued by her arrival but apparently the pristine jungle cat simply couldn't look away.

"Elila?" The heron turned her body firmly against the shark's as Zeranna tried to whisper something in ear.

"There's a woman in the next to the last row on the left side of the hall. She keeps staring at us. And I don't think she's supposed to be here." Zeranna whispered certain that no one else could have heard her near-silent communication.

Elila pulled away scanning the audience. And that's when she saw the unmistakable leer of Kellis' favorite concubine. She had no idea why Zelsi would find her so interesting. But the heron really couldn't be sure that the concubine was really even staring at her. After all, it could be the rather large attractive shark standing at her side that was the cause of such fuss.

"That's Zelsi." Elila muttered not wishing to discuss the concubine with anyone.

"But…she's a…" Zeranna frantically whispered into the heron's ear.

Zeranna stopped her sentence mid-thought not certain that she should really continue. As a warrior for her tribe she had traveled a lot. And one didn't travel far in the kingdom without running into women in the profession of flesh. It was a nasty business and one that Zeranna stayed as far from as possible.

But the shark had easily learned to read the signs and indicators of prostitution. The women always had something dead about them. It was almost like they were simply bodies devoid of souls. Sometimes, she found it almost painful to look at them. They were normally all so hurt and wounded, at least on the inside.

"Yeah, she's a concubine…" Elila replied easily finishing Zeranna's thought.

The shark pulled away from her in abject shock. She couldn't believe that the heron had known all along that there was a woman of ill-repute sitting there amongst the rest of the tribe. And from the looks of things, the woman was surrounded by some of the wealthiest members of the entire tribe. As Zeranna watched them whisper to the concubine, she realized all too clearly just what was going on.

"Everyone knows?" Zeranna whispered trying to make sense of this rather strange occurrence. Elila quickly nodded and the shark felt overwhelmed by sheer confusion.

Of course, these women existed in her own native Midali tribe. But they weren't taken out to important awards ceremonies. And they certainly weren't allowed to mingle with the rest of the tribe. The sale of sex was seen as deeply shameful to the Midali. And Zeranna couldn't believe that the jungle cats appeared so very unaffected by the whole thing.

"Look over there…" Elila whispered.

And from there, the heron pointed out all the familiar concubines to her tribe. Elila had to stop herself from laughing aloud as she watched the look of shock and horror cross the shark's face. It was quite apparent that concubines weren't allowed such privileges in the Midali tribe.

"This is unbelievable." Zeranna whispered unable to even comprehend such improper behavior.

But just as she was about to ask Elila for more clarification, the audience erupted in more cheering. Zeranna knew that if she was going to make a quiet exit that now was the time. Quickly, she turned back to the heron who was already prepared to say good-bye.

"Thanks for everything." Elila said, smiling warmly at her newest friend.

"You're quite welcome. You're going to be okay?" Zeranna asked not sure that she should really leave Elila. Even though it was clear that the heron was out of mortal danger something still felt off. The shark really didn't know what it was but there was something bothering her about the whole ordeal.

"I'll be fine." Elila said reassuring the shark so that she could leave.

It surprised her, but Elila found that she didn't really want Zeranna to go. In the short time Elila had known her, she had come to enjoy the shark's company. And with Yamina so physically far away she wasn't excited about having stand all alone in the back of the hall. But Elila knew it would be best for Zeranna to go.

"Wait!" Elila called out catching Zeranna before she moved too far away.

"Where is the Midali hall?" Elila asked.

She wasn't sure why she really wanted to know. She had absolutely no reason to go looking for the sharks ever again. But for some unknown reason Elila still felt compelled to ask.

"It's over in the aquatic building. It's on the basement floor, third room on your left." Zeranna answered not thinking much of the heron's question. With one more smile and wave, the shark finally disappeared down the hall leaving Elila to fend for herself.

The heron wandered back to her place resting against the large white wall. She noticed that despite the noise and activities cascading all around them, Kellis seemed quite interested in her again. It was quite unnerving the way Kellis was studying her body with her eyes. And in all honesty, Elila had no idea what was going through her friend's mind…

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She was barely unable to get through the rest of the ceremony. All she wanted to do was leap off the stage and go charging after the shark. Kellis couldn't believe that anyone would have the nerve to stand there and partake in what was obviously a very private event for her tribe.

What was truly bothering her was that Elila had just stood there. The heron had lingered in the back of the room like some sort of outsider only casually listening in on the awards ceremony that she should really be at the heart of. She was the alpha's daughter. One day her mate would rule the tribe.

But Elila never seemed to care about such trivial matters. She constantly acted like attending a formal tribal ceremony was nothing more then a bother. Kellis had witnessed first hand on countless occasions how truly disinterested Elila could be when it came to the jungle cats.

And the golden warrior had reached her limit. Elila had barely contributed to the festivities surrounding the Gallion. Kellis couldn't remember one single occasion that the heron had volunteered to participate in. She only ever went when her tribal duties demanded it.

For some reason Kellis couldn't help but stare at Narlene, if only briefly. Narlene was the perfect epitome of spirit and enthusiasm. Kellis stared down at her own necklace that Narlene had mostly likely worked on for months. Narlene was at every single event, every single tribal function, and was normally the last one to leave every party.

Briefly, Kellis let her mind consider a union with the girl. But she knew such a coupling would be terribly ill fated. While she definitely respected and admired Narlene's dedication to the tribe, she knew that most of the time Narlene only annoyed her. Unlike Elila, she had no deeper feelings for the blonde cat.

But as Kellis thought more about her relationship with the heron she realized that something must be done. One day, she firmly intended to marry Elila. And it would be completely unacceptable for her wife to behave in the way that Elila did today. She couldn't imagine what could have possessed the heron to bring a shark hybrid to the ceremony. But Kellis had no intention of letting such an action go by unnoticed.

In fact, as soon as the ceremony was over she intended to sit down and have a very long talk with the heron about appropriate behavior. For the longest time she had let Elila's social faux pas go by uncommented on. Kellis knew that if she intervened that girl would expect more of a commitment from her. And even though she was far from ready to take that last step towards marriage, Kellis felt that it was time to become a bit more involved in Elila's life.

Finally, she heard the sounds of their tribal song coming from the speakers all around her. The ceremony had officially finished. And Kellis couldn't be more grateful. She was quite tired of putting on a fake show of cheerfulness.

The hall exploded in a rampant chorus of cheers, song and dance while Kellis tried to make her way off the stage. The music was loud and quite painful to her as she searched the thronging crowd for signs of the heron. But as she made her way onto the audience floor Kellis found her passage blocked by several well-meaning tribe mates. As the premier warrior, simply every single person in attendance wanted to congratulate her.

And as much as she wanted to stalk off after Elila, she regretfully realized that she couldn't. She would have to remain right were she was. As a warrior she was honor bound to listen to the comments and praise of every single one of her tribe mates. But she knew this round of congratulations wouldn't go on forever. Sometime when all this was over, she would finally express her extreme disappointment to the heron. And hopefully, Elila would learn to treasure the value of tribal loyalty.

But Yamina had no such problems cutting her way through the crowd. There was no warrior expecting to receive a warm embrace and a few kind words from her. She was quite free to exit the hall at an absurdly rapid pace.

She easily spotted Elila waiting for her. With the entire tribe crowding around the stage they had the entire rest of the hall virtually to themselves. Yamina stood there staring at her friend for a few long moments. She was so terribly relieved to see that the heron was all right and unharmed.

"Hey…" Elila called out watching the play of emotions dance across her friend's face.

She couldn't help but notice how tired Yamina looked. And Elila realized with a rather pronounced sense of guilt that she was most likely the cause of it. But aside from her tired blue eyes and slightly swollen golden skin, Yamina looked amazing. The heron couldn't help but notice that her floor length silky black dress must have been tailored especially for this ceremony.

And Yamina had her long blonde hair swept up high upon her head in a rather intricate and complicated looking braid. Elila had to simply stare it for several lengthy minutes just trying to figure out how her friend had even accomplished it. As she looked at her friend, Elila just couldn't fathom how her friend had remained single.

Even though Elila knew that Narlene was universally considered the perfect expression of jungle cat beauty, the heron couldn't help but disagree. Yamina was so regal with her tall height, elegant grace, and rounded frame. Elila couldn't help but marvel at her friend's rather unnoticed beauty.

"Where have you been?" Yamina asked as she embraced her friend.

"Oh, you would not even begin to believe the night that I had." Elila answered returning her friend's affectionate embrace.

"I was so worried… What happened?" Yamina asked pulling away to study the heron's appearance more closely.

Right away she could tell that something was wrong. Elila was more then tired. She seemed hurt and wounded. Even her skin felt heated and feverish.

"Are you all right?" Yamina asked truly worried for her friend.

"No, I'm not. I'm sick." Elila answered peering around her friend's form to see that the crowd was beginning to make their way to the exit.

"What is it? What's happened?" Yamina asked knowing that something was very wrong with her friend.

"Let's walk, okay?" Elila answered not wanting anyone else to overhear the details of her evening.

Yamina readily agreed wanting nothing more then to be free of the ceremonial hall. They quickly escaped down the long marbled floor that eventually led them to the gardens. Both girls immediately winced in pain when the bright noon sun suddenly filled the air all around them.

"Gods that's bright." Elila mumbled wishing that she had remembered to bring something for her eyes.

"So, don't keep me in suspense." Yamina gently chastised. The heron glanced around realizing that there was considerable distance between them and the rest of the tribe. Since it would be at least another hour before the banquet began, Elila knew that it was time to tell her friend all that had happened.

She gently guided Yamina over to a blossoming rollen bush. They sat next to it, neither caring that their nice clothes were resting upon the moist grass. They had other things to be concerned with besides fashion.

But as Elila looked at her friend she just wasn't sure where to start. So much had happened in one night. And she knew that much of it would terribly upset Yamina. Elila couldn't help but wonder if she should even tell her friend that she had met Carielle.

Glancing at the garden quietly blossoming all around them, Elila only hoped that an hour would be long enough. She knew that her friend would have many questions. The only problem was that Elila didn't have any answers to give, especially where the sharks were concerned.

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She was silent as everything that the heron told her slowly drifted into her mind. Several times she had wanted to interrupt. She wanted an explanation or a question answered. But she never moved her lips. Yamina just couldn't bring herself to stop Elila's words.

And truthfully, it was because she couldn't bare the truth. If she asked for clarification or even more information, then Elila just might give it to her. The heron might actually tell her what the sound of Carielle's voice was like. The heron might even tell her if Carielle had mentioned that night in the water.

But more then anything, she simply wanted Elila to finish her tale. She wanted the heron to hurry up and get it over with. Because Yamina knew that she could go a lifetime without ever again having to hear her rapist called by name.

"I have to get out of here…" Yamina mumbled.

Somewhere in the midst of Elila's rather long story she had forgotten everything that she wanted to tell the heron. She had forgotten about all those little nuggets that she had been holding onto for the better part of the evening. She had even forgotten about Zelsi and her wrenching run-in with Narlene. All she cared about was escape and finding someway to put all thoughts of Carielle far from her mind.

"Yamina wait! I'm sorry. I thought I should tell you everything. I didn't want to keep things from you." Elila answered.

The heron had only done what she thought was best. She felt that Yamina deserved to hear the whole story, even despite her desire to protect her friend. And truthfully, Elila didn't have much to tell her. Her actual contact with Carielle had been short and limited.

But Elila knew that it was everything that she hadn't said to Carielle that was intrinsically important. She hadn't told Yamina what she had read between the lines and curves of the shark's rather expression-filled face. And Elila was beginning to wonder if that was a mistake.

Perhaps, Yamina deserved to know that the heron was very surprised by Carielle's calm and cautious appearance. Maybe it would somehow sooth Yamina to know that the shark had seemed contrite and almost nervous by her presence. Yet, the heron never opened her mouth to say anything about the emotions that were crackling between them. It wouldn't do her friend any good to hear her guesses at the shark's real motives. Yamina only deserved honesty, not Elila's own brand of intuition.

"I know, it's okay." Yamina hastily said pulling herself up from the wet grass.

She knew that Elila needed her. She knew that Elila had been through a very traumatic and painful event. After all, Elila had spent the night in the company of Pedryn.

But there was nothing that Yamina could do to comfort her friend. She was too emotionally wrecked just hearing about it. And despite her best wishes to sit back down and talk to her about it, Yamina just couldn't. She simply couldn't bare to hear anymore.

And she couldn't even tolerate the knowledge. She had the sudden desire to wash every single one of Elila's words right out of her mind. But there was no way for her to truly forget. She would always know that her friend had been amongst the Midali, even if only for a short while.

"I'm sorry…I have to go." Yamina said apologizing for her weakness.

Not only did Elila need her, but she also knew that there was a banquet where her presence was expected. But Yamina would have to miss it. She could feel the tears of unspeakable terror and excruciating pain threatening to break free. Hearing about Carielle and the rest of the sharks, just brought it all crashing back. And now she desperately needed the quiet darkness of solitude.

Briefly, Yamina realized that she was about to fail in one of her most important tribal duties. But she knew in her mind and heart that it couldn't be helped. And besides, her parents were very understanding when it came to her emotions, especially since the incident. Once she told them what happened they would be glad that she had taken some time for herself. They were always so worried about her.

"Elila, I'm so sorry… for everything…" Yamina answered wishing once more that could be more supportive for her friend. After all, she had simply heard of all that the heron had been through. Elila actually had to live it.

"It's all right. I'm fine. You should go back to the Lodge rest." Elila said sounding far calmer then she actually felt.

Yamina didn't argue with her. She couldn't. She wanted to go and the heron was allowing her to do so without the added weight of guilt. She meekly nodded trying to give her friend one last tired smile before leaving. Elila really did seem to have everything under control. And just once, Yamina wished that she too could be as strong as the heron.

Elila watched her friend go suddenly wishing that she were leaving as well. On top of the venom making its way through her system, she was exhausted. She had been hunted for most of the evening. And the rest had been spent in the company of her former enemies. All Elila wanted to do was rest. But she just didn't see how that would be possible anytime in the near future.

Today's banquet was very important, at least socially. Elila knew that her parents would never forgive her if she didn't attend, even if she told them all her valid reasons for not wanting to go. She let her mind drift over the rather terrifying images of the snake coiling around her. And she knew that it would probably be best to never mention any part of her rather long night to her parents. They would just blame her, for everything. And she could certainly do without the hassle.

She saw most of her tribe off in the distance. They were all filing across the garden making their way to the banquet hall. Unfortunately, the banquet was yet another private tribal function. And for Elila, that meant a great deal of discomfort. Now that Yamina was gone, she would be quite alone in the very midst of a crowd. And it was a paradox that the heron was growing rather tired of.

Deciding that it would be in her best interest to find a seat, Elila made her way into the banquet room. It was a large room filled with four massively expansive tables. The tables were so long that if seated at one end, it was nearly impossible to see all the way to the other side.

She looked around the room noticing that the tables were laid out to very clearly indicate social status within the tribe. The table in the middle was the most important of all the others. She knew that as team alpha, Kellis would have the most prized seat at the very head of the table. And as the alpha's daughter, Elila knew that her rightful place was there next to Kellis.

But Elila would never dare to presume anything about her birthright. Despite her genetics, the heron knew that only the swamp would openly claim her parentage. Even though her parents were lawfully married and conceived her many years after their nuptials, she was treated no better then a bastard child. And as such, Elila knew that she really had no place amongst the people of the jungle cat tribe.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 11

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Elila studied the layout of the room trying to find the most unobtrusive place to sit. The table to the right of the center was normally considered the next best place to be. These were the women and warriors who were socially brilliant, but they continued to fall one or two chairs short of making the cut. So instead, they were shoved off to the inside. As the heron glanced them over, she could tell that every single one of them was plotting and conniving a way to spend next year's banquet at the dead center of this all important event.

The heron knew that she had no place amongst their socially ambitious kind. So, that left the table to the near left. These were the people who had been scorned by the tribe for one reason or another. Mostly, it was because they opposed her alpha on one of Thash's many controversial rulings. A large majority of these people were former warriors who had had their honor stripped by her alpha. Without honor, they were cast aside like some sort of worn-out husk. And Elila knew with complete certainty that she would certainly not be welcomed amongst them.

Briefly, she wished that she had talked Yamina into staying. The set-up for this banquet was very explicit and very formal. The seating arrangement always alternated between the women and the warriors. There was no room for an odd number or an uneven amount.

With Yamina present Elila would have at least been in a couple. Even though it was often seen as unorthodox and a tad bit sad. At least when they were together, they created an even number and had no trouble finding a table to sit at.

But now she would make any table uneven and cause a potential social problem for any warrior and her woman. As much as she would like to do so, Elila couldn't just scoot into the nearest available chair. She would have to wait until all the couples sat down and began their respective dates. She would have to hope for an empty chair that wouldn't make her a strange and unwanted third wheel.

As she glanced at the very end of the room, she realized she had one last option. There was a fourth table off to the very far left of the room. This was where the socially recluse convened. Elila knew that these people had most likely purchased their invitation to the Gallion with hordes of shameless money.

She looked them over spotting the rather elderly but still quite feisty, Ilanau. Ilanau had never really been much of a warrior. She had always preferred to gamble then fight for the honor of the tribe. But apparently, the cards had been quite good to her. Elila could easily spot the fine and expensive material that went into her clothes. And if the heron wasn't mistaken, there were three very high-priced concubines hanging on Ilanau's every word.

Right next to Ilanau was Vemari, the tribe's former schoolmaster. Vemari had been publicly shamed for committing indecent acts with countless young and naïve girls. Elila could only wonder how Vemari had managed to afford such a high priced event like the Gallion.

She looked around the rest of the table seeing faces that she recognized but had never formerly met. At the far end of the table, she saw Lineva. Lineva was a reclusive and odd warrior that preferred to be alone then deal with her fellow champions. She was talented, strong and an amazing marksman. But it was only her pure skill that her kept her reputation as well as her honor in tact. Her strange eccentricities and peculiarities and made her something of a social pariah. And if she wasn't so much older, Elila imagined that they might have formed a common bond.

Deciding that this would probably be the best place for her, Elila wandered over to the table taking a seat between Lineva and one of Ilanau's concubines. The concubine smiled at her warmly and Elila was relived to see that she hadn't caused a problem. Unlike Zelsi, this woman had nothing to fear from her. Because of her social status Elila would only ever be permitted to marry one of the finest warriors. And although she was very wealthy, Ilanau didn't qualify socially.

Lineva seemed to have not noticed that she had even sat down. She just stared at the blue tablecloth draped out in front of her. Elila glanced down wondering what she had found so terribly intriguing. All she could see were the two very tightly clenched fists of a rather perturbed warrior. And the heron had to stop herself from laughing aloud. It would visibly appear that she wasn't the only one who would rather not be in attendance.

Figuring that she would have some time before the banquet officially began, Elila tried to find some way to amuse herself. But her mind was tired and the silence around her was slowly lulling her body into a dire need for sleep. She tried to stay focused and alert. She intently studied the roses running like wild vines all through the room. They were on the tables, the floor, and some were even delicately hanging from the ceiling. She looked at the soft delicate petals of the nearest red rose trying to trace its form with her eyes.

Soon, the blue velvet curtains behind her were drawn clear open causing her to gasp out in pain. She had once heard the rays of sunlight found here on the Inception were the brightest in the entire world. She had also heard that the sun always shined most brightly over the village of the Gallion. And as she sat there hunkered over the table, Elila had to believe that those were far from just rumors. Her body just wasn't accustomed to such excruciatingly bright light.

Even though the swamp rarely ever saw the sun, her people preferred to conduct their business and affairs under the sole light of the moon. Black Moon was covered in only the thickest canopy of trees and swamp fog that nature had ever created. With such a humid marshy atmosphere it was rare to see more then a dim light in the sky, even at high noon. And it was an environment that Elila sorely missed as she sat helpless under the unforgiving jungle sun.

"I'm going to have to get in touch with my runner but I think I've made a nice little profit. I can't be sure though. I'm not what happens since the dholes beat the coyotes." Elila listened to the voice of someone across the table address Ilanau.

"Well, what exact bet did you place?" Ilanau asked obviously trying to give advice.

"See, I doubled down on all mammalian matches. But since it was too mammalian tribes that fought in the fourth round, I don't know what they means for me." The hybrid confessed obviously very ignorant about the ins and outs of betting.

"Actually, I'm not sure what that means either. When can you get in touch with your runner?" Ilanau asked equally as confused by the complex system in place for betting on the Gallion.

"It means your bet carried over to the 8th round between the dholes and the komodo. And since the dholes won, you will have tripled your original bet." The words were out of Elila's mouth before she could even stop herself from speaking.

She hadn't meant to attract such attention to herself. It was just that for once, someone in her tribe was speaking about things that she knew. She looked up, a bit concerned by the sudden silence of her table. Everyone within earshot was openly staring at her and she felt a bit foolish for even attempting to communicate. Elila had learned a long time ago that when it came to conversing with her tribe mates, she always seemed to say just the wrong thing.

"Why would it triple?" The person asked her whose name continued to elude Elila.

"Because the 8th round is the final match of the second series. You said you only double downed which means you can only profit until the end of the second series. The dholes went further in the Gallion but you would have had to triple down on your bet to continue the profit." Elila answered quickly.

"I still don't understand. Wouldn't my bet just double?" The hybrid asked obviously interested in her explanation.

"No, the second series includes rounds four, six and eight. Since the dholes won all three of those matches you've tripled your bet." Elila answered wishing that she hadn't become the center of attention.

"But in the fourth round they were matched up against the coyotes?" The hybrid asked still unsure as to what had happened to her money.

"Yeah, it was two mammalian tribes…" Ilanau commented obviously interested in the discussion as well.

Elila took a deep breath trying to gather her thoughts. She was trying to come up with the easiest way to explain the concept of null and zero point matches within associated tribal lines. It was a complicated subject and not easily absorbed by people unaccustomed to the finer points of the betting wheel.

But just as Elila was about to start her explanation, she happened to glance over at the center table. She saw Narlene draped across Kellis' arm, which didn't really surprise her. She saw Zelsi splitting her attention between no less then three different warriors. And she saw Melaryn, openly staring at her. She watched at Melaryn whispered something to her wife and then Elila flushed as she realized they were both gawking at her.

A small frightened voice popped up in the back of her mind warning her about what would happen next. But when Melaryn pulled away from her wife and started to walk towards her, Elila desperately wished that she could somehow disappear. Because to the heron, it would seem that her day was about to become a whole lot worse.

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Melaryn rounded the center table stopping when she reached her designated seat. Elila tried to ignore the happening at the center of the room. She wanted nothing more then to remain unnoticed. The heron just wanted to stay right where she was.

So, she tried her best to ignore the blatant stare of disapproval that Melaryn was casting her. Elila really had no idea why the warrior would be angry with her for any reason. Melaryn was normally nothing but calm and logical.

After a few more moments of blatant angry glares, the warrior hurriedly motioned for her attention. Still Elila tried to ignore her, rushing through a description on the finer points of gambling. But eventually the heron realized that she couldn't remain at a safe distance any longer. Melaryn looked very annoyed and Elila knew she had used up what little patience the warrior had.

"Please, excuse me. It seems that my presence is required." Elila whispered trying to excuse herself from the table.

"Of course… If you get a chance later I would love to learn more about the betting. I'm afraid I'm not as good with numbers as you are." The hybrid from the other side of the table called out.

"Sure, I'd be happy to help." Elila answered. The concubine next to her gave her a polite smile and nod. And even the absurdly wealthy Ilanau cast her a friendly wave.

But now, Elila had to leave the few people at the banquet whose company she could actually tolerate. Slowly, the heron walked to the center table noticing the scorned glances that both Narlene and Zelsi shot in her direction. At the moment, they weren't her concern. Because without discussion or preamble, Melaryn quickly and forcibly escorted her right into a seat.

Melaryn watched as the heron sulked in clear annoyance. Though, she was pleased to see that at least Elila had enough sense not to speak her grievances aloud. Honestly, she had no idea what had gotten into the girl. Normally, Elila was the perfect picture of quiet obedience.

But today had certainly brought out a different side of the girl. Melaryn could hardly believe her own eyes when she saw the heron walk right into the awards ceremony with a tall looming shark following quietly behind. And if that wasn't bad enough, Melaryn knew all about the girl's disappearing act from the night before.

And if she hadn't stepped in, it looked like Elila had every intention of spending the banquet in the company of the tribe's undesirables. The heron knew full well that as the alpha's daughter it simply wasn't proper for her to associate with people like that. But as her wife had graciously pointed out, Yamina was missing from the banquet all together.

But even with her friend gone, Melaryn knew that that didn't give Elila an excuse to go associate with those types of people. The heron had a duty to her tribe. Her presence was expected and required at this banquet.

The ever so slight ringing of the bell brought everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. The bell only meant one thing, the banquet was about to begin. And Elila watched on as everyone hurried to find a seat.

The heron was far from surprised when Narlene quickly sat down next to Kellis at the head of the table. But Elila didn't mistake the golden warrior's annoyance when Melaryn's wife Neisha sat down on her other side. Elila could only assume that Kellis had been expecting to enjoy the company of Zelsi as well.

"Where's your friend?" Elila looked up to see that Zelsi had taken the seat across from her own. The concubine was seated between two warriors that the heron barely knew.

"Oh…uhm Yamina wasn't feeling very well. She went back to the Lodge." Elila answered noticing that their brief exchange of words seemed to have attracted an unwarranted amount of attention.

"Not her, the shark… Who was that?" Zelsi asked obviously very interested in the heron's earlier companion.

Elila stared at her for a moment easily reading the unspoken question in her eyes. And as she looked at the surrounding faces she could see that they were all quite interested. Even Narlene seemed to be staring at her in rapt fascination.

"Her name is Zeranna." Elila answered knowing that wasn't giving them the information that they all apparently wanted.

She could see it when Zelsi pursed her lips as if to silently repeat the shark's name. They wanted to know where she had met the shark. They wanted to know why she had brought the shark to the ceremony. But most important, they all wanted to know just how well she knew the shark.

"So are you close?" Zelsi asked obviously trying to instigate some sort of fight.

Elila looked at the concubine wondering what she should say. It was certainly true that in some regards she was very close with Zeranna. After all, the shark had saved her life.

But Elila knew that that wasn't what Zelsi really wanted to know. She wanted to know if Elila had been close to the shark physically. And as the heron glanced down towards the end of the table she couldn't help but notice that Kellis was staring at her with a focused interest that she couldn't help but find a bit frightening.

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"Zelsi, this is not appropriate conversation." Melaryn hissed out in a low warning.

The concubine seemed shocked and a bit taken aback that anyone would dare take that tone of voice with her. She shot Melaryn a look of contempt and of dire anger. But it would seem that the warrior had no intention of backing down.

"I was only trying to figure out if she would be putting an extra chair at the table. I mean, will the shark be joining us here as well?" Zelsi asked obviously trying to turn Melaryn's anger onto the heron.

"Maybe later… I'm afraid sharks don't really enjoy jungle cat cuisine." Elila answered knowing full well that she was saying all the wrong words.

But Elila just couldn't help it. This was the very last place that she wanted to be. And her mealtime companions were certainly doing their very best to make her feel unwelcome.

"Elila…" Melaryn hissed out in a low threatening voice.

The heron looked at the warrior with a visible expression of disdain. She knew that now was the time for her to cower. Her presence here was only a formality. At the moment, all that was expected of her was a shut mouth and a friendly face. But today, Elila was far too tired to deal with such menial tribal obligations.

"What?" The heron snapped using a tone of voice with the warrior that could only carry grave consequences.

It was such an arcane and yet still popular rule amongst the jungle cats. Women were always to be pleasant, docile, and kind when they choose their words. They weren't permitted to speak to a warrior in any manner that could be construed as disrespectful, angry, or even annoyed. To do so would show that the woman had no class or breeding. Such verbal rudeness would only show that the woman's family had no honor. And it would show a blatant disregard for the warrior's honor.

It was a rule that Elila personally hated and despised. In the swamp there were no such prescribed manners for social etiquette. There weren't even any laws. The heron had grown accustomed to speaking her mind and talking to people openly and honestly. But in the jungle such as thing wasn't permitted, not for the women anyways.

But that one word had come flying out of her mouth before she could stop it. One minute, Elila had been content to simply remain quiet and unnoticed. And the next, she was blatantly disregarding any authority that Melaryn's position afforded.

And Elila was well aware of the fact that Melaryn really had no true power over her. It was certainly considered good manners and appropriate social graces for Elila to treat all hybrids with a certain amount of respect. And normally, the heron did just that.

But she was also the alpha's daughter. Essentially, all of the tribe's warriors were here solely to protect the throne. And since one day Elila would inherit the tribe, the warriors all here to protect her needs.

Elila was well aware of the fact that such things were just manners of sheer technicalities. In her tribe, the warriors held all the real power. The women were little more then wives, mothers, and concubines. The heron knew that her sole purpose was to marry so that a warrior could inherit the throne and lead the tribe.

Thinking of her marital obligations to the tribe made Elila search the long table with her eyes for the golden warrior. It was easy to spot Kellis proudly seated at the head of the banquet. And it was abundantly clear that Narlene was enjoying her prized position as Kellis' date.

But as she glanced at the warrior, Elila could tell that Kellis wasn't even paying attention to the blonde at her side. The heron knew that she alone was the sole focus of the jungle cat's attention. Kellis had heard her brief slip in decorum. And her blue eyes were raging in fury.

For the moment, Elila had totally forgotten that Kellis had been assigned as her guardian for this trip to the Gallion. Kellis was responsible for her. And considering everything that the heron had recently been through, Elila certainly felt that the warrior was doing a less then stellar job.

And now, after a night of drunken cavorting with Zelsi it would appear that Kellis suddenly cared about her behavior. In fact, it seemed that Kellis was quite angry that she had dared to take such a tone with Melaryn. And for the briefest of seconds, the heron actually thought that Kellis might try to do something about it.

But the thought of Kellis trying to control or reprimand her anyway nearly caused her to laugh aloud. Elila had spent the night running from a cobra. After she had survived a near certain death at the sharp fangs of a snake, she had spent the remainder of the evening staring right into the eyes of her former attacker. Elila didn't think that there was anything left that could possibly frighten her.

And just when the heron was eagerly awaiting whatever comments Kellis would direct her way, the wait staff appeared to bring the banquet underway. Suddenly, everyone's attention was on their arriving food. And thankfully, it would appear that her brief altercation with Melaryn was about to be forgotten.

A brimming plate of field greens was placed in front of her. And if Elila wasn't so tired she imagined that the site of all the food would have excited her. Instead, it only reminded her with a painful bout of nausea that it had been days since her body had slept.

"So, Elila…does the Alpha no about your little fishy friend?" Zelsi asked trying to threaten the heron.

"That's it… Not one more word Zelsi." Melaryn snarled. And Elila heard the familiar sounds of a full-throated growl coming from the warrior's throat.

"Actually, the Alpha knows all about my relationship with the Midali warriors." Elila answered telling the complete truth.

The heron knew that everyone at the table thought she was referring to Zeranna. But she wasn't. Elila was thinking of Pedryn. And the heron knew that there wasn't a single thing that happened in the water that her Alpha wasn't intimately aware of.

Thash had simply chosen not to do anything about it. Instead, Elila along with the others had been sworn to secrecy. Perhaps if the truth had been told the situation would have been different. But everything had been neatly hidden and concealed.

Elila realized for the first time that her experience in the water might actually work in her favor, at least for the time being. Her alpha's complete tribal deception gave her a lot of room to move in, especially were Pedryn was concerned. And as Elila looked at the golden warrior the fine beginnings of a plan started to nag at her mind. She couldn't help but feel that it was time to have Kellis removed as her guardian. And the heron was beginning to think that thanks to her Alpha's lies and a sudden encounter with Pedryn, it was only a matter of mere time.

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The banquet had officially begun and the tribe was in complete celebration. This year the Gallion had been particularly sweet to the jungle cats. Their victories had been hard earned but impressive nonetheless. And perhaps, most notable was the fact that Kellis had led the tribe to their greatest triumph.

Elila looked down the table daring to cast a fleeting gaze at the golden warrior. She knew that her alpha would be proud with their victory. But despite the triumph and the great deal of celebration that came with it, the heron knew that her mother would be sorely disappointed.

Elila knew all too well what her mother had been silently hoping for. She had even engineered a situation where the heron would have to share a suite with the tribe's premier warrior. But none of her mother's expectations had even come close to being realized.

In truth, Elila was a bit disappointed as well. She had set off on this trip carrying a veritable horde of romantic expectations. But they had all been quickly dashed, in one painful way or another.

And for the first time the heron found herself considering a life without Kellis. To most people, it had been a foregone conclusion that one day Kellis would change her unruly ways and settle down with Elila. The two were so close. And after all, there was no one else suitable to defend the throne.

But now the heron found herself struggling to think of another option. She was tired of waiting for the inevitable. She was tired of waiting for a future that she didn't really want. And most of all, she was tired of waiting for Kellis.

And in some ways, Elila knew that she was seeing things much clearer now. Somewhere between the near bite of Licara's fangs and the warm gaze of Pedryn's eyes, the heron knew that her focus had changed. Her world had become larger seemingly overnight. Despite her obvious obligations to her tribe, Elila found herself wanting more then a life in the Fasara Village.

She missed the swamp like the very air she breathed. She missed the easy camaraderie of a people that looked just like her. She missed her family. And most of all, she missed the freedom that she would only ever know in Black Moon.

Here, she was a slave to whatever rules the jungle cats had laid down centuries ago. She was a subject to the whim of her parents. And her well being was quickly tossed off on the first warrior that her alpha found approving.

As Elila looked around the table it was almost like she was seeing everything for the very first time. Kellis didn't look quite so enchanting as she used to. Instead, the golden warrior appeared to be drunk, disheveled, and quite clumsy. She had her arm carelessly wrapped around Narlene. And from the look of the subtle anguish crossing Narlene's normally perfect features, the heron could easily tell that Kellis wasn't being very cautious of her strength.

But besides her apparent discomfort, Narlene looked like she was floating in white billowy clouds of pure happiness. Her skin was flushed conveying a complete arousal to her close proximity to the warrior. Her laugh was loud and nearly hysterical as Kellis drooled several long battle stories into her ear. And from the complete disappearance of Narlene's hands from the tabletop, the heron knew that Kellis was receiving a far more then platonic date.

And the strange thing was that Elila found herself unbothered by the illicit intimacy being carried on at the far end of the table. For the first time, the heron realized she truly didn't care who Kellis plied with affection. Elila didn't know if it was caused by her fatigue, illness, or near-death experience. But something inside of her had snapped. And she found herself rather disinterested with all her tribe mates.

Glancing to the side, the heron noticed that Neisha and Melaryn seemed to be having a rather heated conversation. From Melaryn's furtive stares in Kellis' general direction, the heron knew that the golden warrior was doing a rather thorough job embarrassing herself. And it would appear that everyone's was well aware that there were erotic activities being performed right under the table.

Hearing Zelsi hiss in disgust, the heron searched out the concubine with her eyes. The woman was clearly annoyed with Kellis and her apparent activities with Narlene. It was also quite clear that the concubine was less then impressed with the company of her dates.

Elila tried to stop the laugh threatening to erupt from her throat. She really didn't want to cause a scene. But she doubted that anything she did could possibly begin to compare with the golden warrior's less then proper activities.

Instead, the heron tried to focus on the food in front of her. Tentatively, she chewed on some lettuce and sipped her tea. Despite her apparent hunger, Elila knew her stomach wasn't ready for such a hearty meal. She was still too nauseated for real nutrition.

But aside from her rather lackluster company, the heron had to admit that the banquet was going off quite beautifully. Each course was being served in perfect time. The small blue tapered candles adorning the long tables never once went out. The music was soft, relaxing, and perfect for such a meal. And the rose decorations were nothing short of exquisite.

"I said NO." Zelsi screamed causing everyone at the table to face her.

But the concubine seemed not to care that she had caused such a fuss. Elila looked at the warrior seated to the right of Zelsi and could easily read the signs of humiliation. The heron could only guess what the warrior had asked for.

Apparently, the concubine was in no mood for any type of physical antics. Elila really couldn't understand Zelsi's sour mood. Elila had been to the Lodge, she had seen her hotel room. And she knew what had gone on during her absence. She could only assume that Zelsi was upset that her affections had been so easily replaced with those of Narlene.

"What are you staring at?" Zelsi snapped noticing that the heron seemed rather focused on her.

Elila only shrugged her shoulders truly not wanting to engage in conversation with the concubine. She knew that such discourse would only prove futile and ill tempered. The heron just didn't have the energy or patience to deal with the whore this early in the day.

"You know, you shouldn't even be looking at me! I'm not the cause of your problems. THAT is!" Zelsi said in a voice that very closely resembled a scream. As if to make her point she leaned out of her chair vigorously pointing at Narlene.

Her outraged voice instantly got the unwanted attention of all the warriors assembled at the table. Elila glanced at Melaryn knowing full well that the concubine had used up what little patience had been afforded to her. But for once, the heron wasn't interested in seeing those around her rush to her rescue. She didn't need anyone's help in dealing with Zelsi. To Elila, the concubine had suddenly become at best inconsequential.

"You're mistaken Zelsi. I don't have a problem." Elila answered with pure ice running through her veins.

It was apparent that everyone else had heard her rather determined tone as well. Without saying the words she let every single person in attendance know that she truly didn't care. And as Melaryn found the heron's eyes she could see that Elila firmly meant her words.

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The banquet was drawing to a close and Elila couldn't be more pleased. The hot jungle sun was just beginning to set. The air in the room was humid and stale after all the many hours of dining. And most people in attendance had clearly reached their rollen limit.

Even though the last course had been served a near hour ago, Elila knew it would still be a long while before she was allowed to leave. It was considered poor manners to leave a celebration of any kind before the moon had completely risen. Not only that, but as the Alpha's daughter Elila was expected to remain until the very end. Her tribal station would allow no less.

But as she watched her tribe mates gather in different areas of the room, the heron felt no desire to join them. She was one of the only people left sitting at a dinning table. Everyone else had got up to mingle in small groups and dance in couples.

She could easily see Melaryn and Neisha locked in each other's arms sweeping majestically across the dance floor. They really were a beautiful couple and very much in love. They were the type of couple that gave you hope of eternal romance and a happy ever after. Neisha must have caught the heron's wistful gaze because she pleasantly waved at Elila obviously wanting her to feel more comfortable.

She saw Kellis and Narlene sneak out onto the patio obviously wanting some alone time. Even Zelsi seemed to be enjoying herself. She was seated right in the middle of a circle of warriors all very interested in enjoying her affections for the evening.

Elila sat all alone at a table that now seemed close to gigantic. It's not that she felt particularly lonely, she was just aware of how conspicuous her solitary presence was. And if she wasn't aware of it then Narlene's friends were more then ready to tell her. Most them were huddled in a large group eagerly waiting for their friend to return with Kellis. And in the interim, they seemed more then content to stare and snicker at the heron.

Taking the very last sip of fluid from her glass, Elila looked around the room. She knew that it was well past time to get up. Normally with Yamina present the ending of these ceremonies posed no such uncomfortable dilemmas. She would simply find a quiet dark corner to sit in and enjoy the company of her friend.

But now, Yamina was gone. And Elila was going to have to find something to do with herself. She looked in the far corner of the room noticing that a small group of people had gathered around the tiny makeshift bar. Instantly she recognized Ilanau, Vemari, and the others from before. She wondered if it might not be time to get to know these people a bit better.

So, much to the disdained looks of Neisha and Melaryn the heron crossed the room eagerly joining the tribe's less then desirable. At first, none of them seemed to even notice her presence. She quietly made her way up to the bar asking for another herbal drink. It's not that Elila was totally opposed to rollen-based beverages. It was just that her heron's metabolism couldn't seem to withstand the effects of intoxication.

"ELILA!" Ilanua called out noticing her silent form.

The heron was taken aback at the sudden excited call directed her way. She had assumed that they all knew who she was. But she had never expected such a friendly greeting. And before she knew it, Elila was caught up in somewhat vigorous and drunken embrace.

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It felt like the very walls of her mind were beginning to break down. She had never experienced such a dire and excruciating pain. But she knew she couldn't complain. It was really all her fault.

Kellis knew she had absolutely no business even sampling the juice of a rollen berry after last night. But after her previous drinking binge she had gone right back and done it again. And now, she was completely convinced that this time her body might not ever recover.

"So? You want to go back to my suite?" Narlene whispered trying to get the drunken warrior to agree to leave.

"Can't…" Kellis managed to gasp out.

"Yes, you can. Don't you want to?" Narlene asked adding a little kiss to the end of her question.

She had been doing her very best to get the warrior into a compromising position. She had even gone so far as to add a 'special blend' to the warrior's beverage. It wasn't just rollen juice that had Kellis in such a state of intoxication. Narlene had spent the afternoon dropping hidden spoonfuls of jolari spice into the warrior's waiting glass.

Narlene knew all the effects of the jolari root. She had studied them time and time again. She was only looking for an opportunity to put her knowledge into use. And much to her utter delight, the Gallion was giving her just that.

The root of the jolari tree was known for its aphrodisiac qualities. It could make any woman or hybrid quake with the needs of passion. But the sexual stirring was only a side effect of its more sublime purpose. It caused memory loss and hypnotic effects in anyone who ingested it.

The effects weren't permanent; Narlene would never have risked using them if they were. She liked Kellis far too much to consider permanently altering her mind. No, this was nothing more then a little temporary magic to let Narlene create the scenario of her choosing.

"CAN'T!" Kellis screamed more violently. This time she tried to push the girl away. But under the rather intoxicating effects of the rollen juice and jolari spice, the warrior could barely control the limbs of her own body.

"Kellis, I need you… You know this is what you want." Narlene said hoping to convince the warrior to give into temptation.

"Sick… nno." Kellis whimpered out.

Narlene looked at the warrior and felt her anger boiling. After months of careful planning it would appear that she had miscalculated the appropriate dosage. She had given Kellis far too much and it appeared that the warrior was about to become totally useless to her.

But Narlene wasn't going to give up this easily. Besides her motivation, she had no idea when another opportunity would arise. No, it would be far better to salvage what was left of this situation.

"You don't feel good do you? You want to go lie down? I'll take you back to the Lodge and you can rest." Narlene said trying a different approach.

"Sleep…" Kellis managed to whisper, letting Narlene assist her across the patio.

The warrior was heavy in her arms and Narlene nearly let her drop on more then one occasion. But she wouldn't give up. Not until she had got exactly what she needed. Gently shushing the warrior, they walked far from the banquet hall and into the darkness of the falling night.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 12

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Somehow despite Kellis' obvious physical distress they managed to return to the Lodge. The trip had been difficult for Narlene. On more then one occasion she thought that the warrior was going to black out. But thankfully, they boarded a speedy transport that had them well underway.

But once they arrived at the Lodge, Narlene realized that her troubles were just beginning. She needed to get the warrior into her private rooms. And much to her extreme dissatisfaction, Narlene's quarters were located on the fourth floor.

Gently, she tried to guide the stumbling warrior to the staircase. But Kellis was protesting. She was mumbling incoherently. Her body was shaking with drug induced tremors. Even her mouth seemed unable to hold onto its own saliva.

"Come on, we have to keep moving." Narlene said physically forcing the warrior towards the stairs.

"Noooo…" Kellis mumbled trying once again to fall into a heap on the floor.

If the warrior went down again, Narlene wasn't so sure that she would be able to get her back up. The warrior's physical state was growing more severe. And for the briefest of moments Narlene actually feared the worst.

Jolari root could be toxic when given in large doses. That's why Narlene had made absolutely certain that she had administered the herb in only the safest of quantities. But Narlene couldn't quell the rising fear that Kellis had ingested a large quantity of rollen juice. And Narlene knew that sometimes a lethal interaction could occur between the two substances.

"We have to go." Narlene said forcibly pushing the warrior with all her strength.

After several seconds of a growling struggle she managed to force the warrior into the stairwell. Before beginning what was sure to be a long and difficult climb, Narlene scanned the lobby with her eyes. As far as she could tell, it was totally vacant.

She tried to stop the nervous pounding of her heart but found the task near impossible. She had just drugged the tribe's premier warrior. And if all went according to plan, tonight would permanently seal the golden cat's future. She had every right to be frightened. The things she was about to do were dangerous and downright criminal.

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"I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name." Elila said allowing the hybrid across from her to take her hand.

"I'm Soudarra." The hybrid answered obviously very pleased to be sharing a private moment with the heron.

"Did you get in touch with your runner?" Elila asked wondering if the hybrid had managed to sneak out to send a communiqué.

"No, I'm afraid not. Tell me Elila…Is it all right if I call you that?" Soudarra asked gently guiding the heron into a darkened corner.

"Fine." Elila answered slightly bemused by the strange turn of events. It wasn't everyday that a jungle cat attempted to earn her affections.

"How does someone like the Alpha's daughter come to know so much about the betting wheel?" Soudarra asked giving her a feral smile.

Elila couldn't stop the slight wave of nervous laughter that crested over her form. It's not that she was really frightened of Soudarra. After all, they were in a room full of people. There was just something about her smile. There was something unsettling about the stubby look of her feline fangs adorning her mouth. There was just something about Soudarra that reminded her of the cobra.

"Well, I did live in the swamp for most of my life." Elila answered, nervously glancing around the room.

The heron didn't understand where all this nervous anxiety was stemming from. She was in no apparent danger. Sure, Soudarra was a bit more affectionate then she would have liked. But there was no reason for her feeling of near panic.

"Ah, well that would explain it. Tell me Elila, do you miss the swamp?" Soudarra asked leaning in close to her body.

The touch was intimate but far from repulsive. The heron wasn't exactly pleased to have a virtual stranger impede on her personal space. But there was nothing about this situation that should cause her body to practically tremble.

Soon enough though, Elila realized that it wasn't Soudarra's unwanted affections that were causing her panic. It had to be the venom. Suddenly, Elila realized that it had been hours since she had taken the medication. And now if her shaking hands and raw throat were any indication, it was wearing off.

"Are you all right?" Soudarra asked suddenly realizing that there seemed to be something drastically wrong with the heron.

"No…" Elila whispered watching the room spin around right before her very eyes.

She briefly remembered that the Midali healer had cautioned her to seek medical treatment right away. Even Pedryn had told her to find her tribe's healer as soon as she returned. If only she had listened. But now it was too late and as her heart hammered away in her chest, Elila began to wonder if her body could withstand the venom.

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Zelsi walked across the room trying her best not to be noticed. Which for her was a very difficult task. Her low cut dress, elegant beauty, and primal sexual energy nearly always made sure that she alone was the center of attention.

But for once, she wanted to be inconspicuous. She had paid her drunken warrior suitors a brief goodbye. She had promised a quick return and the concubine had every intention of living up to her word. There was just one small thing she needed to do first.

Walking to the side of the table she reached down grasping a cup with her hands. It had been the one that Kellis had used. Quickly, she brought it up to her face deeply inhaling the fragrance.

Instantly, she could tell that her instincts had been correct. There was definitely the aroma of something spicy in the drink. Carefully, she dipped one long slim finger in the remaining fluid and carefully drizzled it across her tongue. It was a taste that she would know anywhere.

Zelsi had to stifle her chuckle. She had to give Narlene credit. She never would have imagined that the girl would go this far. Jolari root wasn't easy to come by. It was expensive and strictly regulated. She couldn't imagine where the girl had even got it.

Zelsi returned the cup to the table thinking that she finally had all the information she needed to keep the girl off her back. But in that instance, her mind wandered to a darker place and she knew that Narlene's intentions were anything but innocent.

Jolari root is a dangerous substance. Zelsi knew from personal experience just how toxic it could be. And the concubine seriously doubted that Narlene had any experience with it.

And not only that, but Zelsi couldn't begin to understand why Narlene had gone to all this trouble. If the girl simply wanted to bed Kellis mere rollen juice would have been sufficient. The girl had to have a more elaborate scheme if she went so far as to use jolari root. Zelsi slumped against the table as she realized that the girl was about to start something that could only possibly end in disaster.

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Elila felt her body slide down the wall behind her. She couldn't even hold herself upright. It was almost like gravity had suddenly become her worst enemy.

"Elila?" Soudarra whispered trying to figure out what had caused the heron's sudden illness. They hybrid began to panic. She didn't have the most polished reputation as it was. She certainly couldn't afford to be seen with the Alpha's daughter in this obvious state of physical distress.

"I need a drink." Elila whispered feeling the flames in her throat roar into a sweltering blaze of heat.

Soudarra crossed the room back to the bar. Quickly, she brought the heron a glass of water hoping to somehow ease the situation. But as she watched Elila gulp down the fluid she knew the girl was only getting worse. Now her eyes were glazed over and her lips were turning a pale shade of blue.

Soudarra knew that she just couldn't stay with the girl, not when she was like this. She had no idea what was causing Elila's illness but she knew that someone would blame her. And she just couldn't handle another scandal.

Even though she felt terrible for doing it, she turned and ran leaving the girl to fend for herself. She knew that sooner or later someone was bound to miss the Alpha's daughter. It's not like Elila was exactly hidden or anything. Someone would have to find her, eventually…

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"Just a few more steps…COME ON…you can do it." Narlene pleaded with the warrior to summon the few drops of extra needed strength.

Through only sheer determination Narlene had gotten the inebriated warrior up four flights of stairs. In only a few more steps she would have the warrior in her bedroom. And that's all she needed, to get Kellis all alone and vulnerable to her whims.

"Here we go." Narlene said pushing the warrior right through the door to her suite.

And without a single drop of grace, Kellis fell to the floor in a heap of drool. Narlene rushed to her side hoping to get the warrior the few extra steps to the bedroom. But she could tell that it would be a hopeless task. The warrior's eyes were dilated and rolled back in her head. Her pulsed was low and her breath was weak.

Part of Narlene was growing concerned. She knew that Kellis shouldn't be this out of it. But she hadn't come this far to back off now. Instead, she decided to go ahead with her plans. After all, this might be the only real chance she got.

Carefully, she lowered herself to the floor next to the unconscious warrior. Quickly, she began the rather difficult task of removing the warrior's leathers. She had spent countless hours imagining the naked flesh of Kellis' body. And now, she was finally going to get to see it, every single beautiful inch of it.

But in her fantasies, this scenario had always been so romantic. It was their wedding night and Kellis took great care to slowly undress right before her eyes. She wouldn't want to frighten Narlene with the strength of her body.

Narlene knew could never be afraid. She needed this far too much. She craved this contact for everything she was worth. After all with the sheer touch of her flesh, Kellis could give her a brand new life.

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"I don't know what I'm going to do with her." Melaryn growled into the waiting ear of her wife.

"There's nothing you can do. She's not your responsibility. If she wants to drink herself into an early grave, that's her business." Neisha answered not caring to discuss Kellis anymore that evening.

"But she has everything. And she's going to loose it all. She can't even control herself. Did you see that way she was carrying on at the table?" Melaryn shrieked out, not caring that they were causing quite a stir on the dance floor.

"Yes, I saw. I think the entire tribe saw." Neisha answered pulling her wife back into a close embrace. Gently, she ran her hands down Melaryn's back trying to calm her flaring temper.

"Elila saw." Melaryn answered in a grave tone filled with regret.

"Mmm…but I don't think she cared." Neisha answered pulling away to stare into her wife's eyes.

"You saw it too?" Melaryn asked, thinking back to the strange aura of indifference that had surrounded the heron.

"Yeah, I did. I think most people did. And you know what, I think it's high time." Neisha answered feeling a small inkling of pride for the heron's decision to stand up for herself.

"What? You're the one whose always telling me not to worry that one day Kellis and Elila will finally find each other." Melaryn said gently wiping a stray piece of blonde hair from her wife's eyes.

"Yes, I did. But honey, things have changed. You and I just didn't see it. We're both too close to Kellis to ever be objective. We only ever saw them together. Come to think of it, I can't even remember the last time that I was alone with Elila." Neisha answered in the soft soothing tones that Melaryn loved to hear.

"What does that matter? It's not like you two would spend a great deal of time together anyways. You're married and have two beautiful children that take up most of your time." Melaryn said thinking of their small beauties waiting patiently at home.

"It does matter. I can't remember the last time I really spoke to Elila. But tonight, I saw someone I didn't recognize. And truthfully, I think it's for the best." Neisha said not wanting to hurt her wife's feelings. She knew how protective Melaryn could be of Kellis.

"For the best? This is a disaster! Kellis has now slept with practically the entire village. I wouldn't be surprised if an illegitimate child was on the way. And she's the premier warrior set to inherit the throne." Melaryn said thinking of the sorry state of their tribal affairs.

One time long ago, the jungle cats had been a tribe filled with pride and honor. They commanded respect from the entire Kingdom. But that was before Thash. That was before the tribe's Alpha married an outsider. That was long before the birth of the heron.

It's not that Melaryn held Elila responsible for the undoing of their majesty. She knew the heron was nothing more then a victim of circumstance. She blamed Thash, a warrior that could have had it all. Instead, the tribal Alpha flew in the face of tradition and tried to fix a system that wasn't broken to begin with. Kellis' recent behaviar was just further evidence of their tribal problems.

"Kellis has a problem. She drinks too much. And she's sleeps around with all the wrong women. But all of that is her choice." Neisha answered trying to calm her wife.

"Why would she do this? She could have everything." Melaryn whined pressing closer to her wife's body.

"Honey, she's the youngest premier warrior the Fasara have ever had. Success has come to easy for her. She's never had to work at anything. And now, it's doing her in." Neisha answered.

"That's not fair Neisha. She's worked very hard at battle strategies and strength." Melaryn said quite offended by her wife's statement. It's just that she conducted a lot of Kellis' training personally. And she felt a certain amount of pride over Kellis' vast achievements.

"Melaryn, I know how you feel about her. And I love you for your loyalty. But you have to see that she's in trouble. And there's nothing that any of us can do to pull her out. She has to help herself. And sweetie, I'm not sure that this is a battle she can win." Neisha said dropping her head back down to her wife's shoulder.

They were utterly lost in the moment. They were so completely immersed in their shared touch and shared feeling that they were lost solely in each other. If they had only been more observant they might have noticed Elila sitting on the floor in a dizzying wave of nausea and fever.

But no one saw her. No one knew that her heart was speeding up to dangerously high levels. And no one knew that her skin was beginning to turn the darkest shade of midnight blue.

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"This is what I've been waiting for, my whole life…" Narlene wistfully exclaimed as she twirled around the room.

She would have preferred to be doing this on a bed surrounded in candlelight. She would have preferred this to be gentle and slow. She would have preferred to be basking in love and the concept of forever.

But instead, the warrior was past out cold and she would just have to make due. She had locked them away in her suite carefully checking the bolt. She didn't want to be interrupted. Tonight, was far too important for any sort of intrusion.

She gazed down at the nude body of the warrior. Her long supple limbs were shaking with the impact of drug-induced tremors. Her skin was coated in a fine sheen of sweat. Even her facial features were swollen and contorted under the pressure of a boiling fever.

"Shh…stop moaning." Narlene whispered cupping the warrior's face in her hand. She didn't want the warrior to cry out again. No one could know that they were even here.

"Now, I have to get ready. But you'll be fine while I'm gone." Narlene said stroking the long blonde tendrils of Kellis' hair.

Looking down at the body that she soon would possess, Narlene couldn't help but focus on the perfect pert breasts. She stroked her hand across the side of one, gently cupping it from beneath. She felt it swell and harden beneath her touch.

"See, you need me. I knew we'd be perfect together. Just perfect…" Narlene whispered to the unconscious hybrid beneath her.

If anyone else had heard the woman speak, they might have been able to do something. But Kellis was all alone and helpless with the raving woman who had obviously lost her grasp on sanity. Turning away from the warrior Narlene walked to the nearest mirror admiring her gaze. Her smile was lopsided and her eyes were a bit wild. She seemed crazed, but Narlene knew that it was only her need for Kellis that was driving her mad.

"Soon my love…no one will ever be able to break us apart." Narlene whispered as she looked at the reflection of the helpless warrior.

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She tried to focus on the sound of her breath. If she could still reach for air then she would live. But Elila felt her heart buckling under the potent venom. She had to get help.

Try as she might, the heron found that she couldn't use her voice. The pain in her throat was excruciating. It felt like someone had poured molten lava right down her mouth.

Unable to call out for help, Elila realized that she would have to move. Struggling against the nearest table, she finally managed to get her legs underneath her. It was a strange moment when she finally stood. It felt like here legs were gone and she was floating on nothing more then air. She grasped the edge of the table with her hands trying desperately to move towards the other people in the room.

Even though it seemed like she must have walked a sheer mile, she realized her body had only moved an inch. Looking around the room she couldn't see anyone near to her. Her vision was blurry and tunneled as she struggled to simply move further.

"Oh my god!" The heron heard someone's voice call out.

But Elila couldn't respond. From their frantic and excited tones she could only assume that they had seen her form. Unable to stand any longer, she collapsed against the table and let her body drop carelessly to the ground.

"Someone help!" The voice called out again rushing to her side.

"Elila…Elila.. Can you hear me?" The voice called out again.

Vaguely, the heron was aware of the fact that someone was slapping her face. She felt someone shaking her body with panicked gestures. But she couldn't do anything to respond. Slowly, Elila felt herself slipping away into the nothingness of a shear black night.

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She stepped from the shower letting her naked body absorb the tiny droplets of moisture that remained on her skin. She wanted this night to perfect. She wanted to be perfect for Kellis.

She scented her skin carefully so that her body carried the rich aroma of the orchid. Next, she lathered her skin in moisturizer wanting to be soft to the touch. And when all that was done, she painted her lips wanting to give the warrior the most perfect kiss.

To finish her look, she wrapped her body in the thinnest white night gown that she could find. She had purchased it special, just for this hallmark occasion. Narlene wistfully smiled, as she remembered the way that her mother had almost caught her with it.

But luckily, thanks to a loose floorboard and a quick slight of hand, she had managed to hide the sensual item from the prying eyes of her mother. It simply would have been a disaster if her mother had even guessed what she had planned. Her mother had one vision of her future and Narlene quite another.

"Well mamma, things will be different now." Narlene said smiling at her reflection in the mirror.

Narlene knew that she looked simply exquisite. She was glad that she had taken that extra time and care to do this for Kellis. It would mean so much to the warrior, even if she wasn't awake.

"Now, my love. It's time to start our life together." Narlene whispered, walking towards the warrior ready to seal their joint future.

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"You guys, there's something wrong with Elila. Get help!" Haluaris screamed at her circle of friends. But none of them even bothered to move, they all just stared down at the girl in clear disdain.

"Please…she probably just drank too much." Shaenebel scoffed not personally caring what befell the heron.

"No! There's something wrong with her. She's turning blue." Halauris screamed again. She couldn't believe that her friends were acting this callous. She was well aware of the fact that none of them were exactly on friendly term with the heron, but this was ridiculous.

"It's venom." A soft voice called out from behind.

Halauris looked over her shoulder to see a hybrid perched over the heron's fallen form. The girl knew right away just who she was. And in any normal circumstance Halauris would never even have spoken to her. But since her friends weren't going to help, that left her with only one option.

"What do you we do?" Halauris asked well aware of the fact that the heron's breath was coming in weak and shallow bursts.

"We have to get her to a healer. She needs medication. She's not going to survive much longer." Lineva answered looking around the room for one of the tribe's healers.

Lineva mentally cursed herself for being so unaware. It had only been a few hours ago that the heron had sat right next to her. Even though they hadn't spoke, Lineva didn't notice a single thing wrong with the girl. Elila had seemed fine. But now she realized that something terrible had befallen the girl right under her very eyes. And now, as she scanned the room she realized that all the healers were gone. Looking down at Elila, she knew the girl wouldn't survive much longer.

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Lineva scanned the room hoping to find one of the tribe's healers. But it would appear that they were very much on their own. As a warrior, she was trained in immediate emergency care. But she was afraid that dealing with the effects of venom was something that went way beyond her expertise. Not only that, but Lineva didn't know one thing about treating someone with swamp lineage. And given the grave circumstance of Elila's present condition, she certainly didn't want to guess.

Kellis would know what to do. Not only was she the best warrior in the tribe, but she was also a highly accomplished healer. And Lineva knew that the heron spent much time with the towering golden warrior. Surely, she would know what to do for Elila.

"Have you seen Kellis?" Lineva asked wondering if the warrior could easily be reached.

"She left a while ago with Narlene. She's completely intoxicated. She can't help us." Halauris answered feeling a bit desperate.

Lineva nodded, briefly remembering that she had seen Kellis drink more then her fair share at the banquet. With Kellis gone that left her wondering where the team's official healer was. Since the Gallion was often known for its bloody qualities they always traveled with their own healer. But at the moment, Lineva didn't see her anywhere.

"Where's Fiali?" Lineva asked the girl knowing that the heron was running out of time.

"I haven't seen her. I don't think she bothered to come to the banquet. You know her wife just had a baby. She's probably half way to the village by now." Halauris answered wondering what would befall the tribe if Elila died right there on the floor.

"Melaryn, we have to Melaryn." Lineva snapped feeling the need to move. She needed to feel useful. But Halauris stopped her with a strong hand on her shoulder.

"She left with her wife. By now, they're already back at the Lodge. Elila can't wait that long!" Halauris said placing a flat palm on the heron's chest.

The feelings that overcame her were strange with their intensity. She desperately and furiously wanted Elila to live. Halauris just didn't think she could handle it.

Halauris found it odd that she would have such a visceral reaction to the heron's failing pulse. She and Elila certainly weren't friends. But the girl didn't think that they were enemies either. She knew that Elila and Narlene were deeply embittered to one another. But Halauris had no such ill feelings towards the heron. In fact at times, she was almost fond of her.

But losing Elila now was causing more then just a general panic. Elila was a fellow tribe mate. And Halauris always felt the loss of another jungle cat, not matter how intimate their relationship.

And yet, she knew that losing the heron could be utterly devastating. With Elila gone, there would no civilized way for the tribe's Alpha to be determined. There would be an uproar. All of Thash's long time critics and enemies would come out for one last chance at winning the throne. And in the end, the entire tribe would be in chaos.

"Here give her this." Lineva screamed feeling her ability to be calm and focused drain away with every shallow breath the heron took.

"What is it?" Halauris asked tentatively holding the cup in her hands.

"It's rollen juice. It should help to release some of the pressure around her heart." Lineva said knowing that she was taking little more then an educated guess.

At the moment, they didn't have anything else to try. Carefully, Halauris opened the heron's mouth dribbling the fluid down the girl's throat. At first, nothing happened.

But then Elila was gagging and coughing. Both the warrior and the woman faced each other in confusion. Neither of them knew if this was a good sign or a final act of death. Halauris went back to pouring the thick fluid into the girl's mouth. And when the cup had been drained, Elila's eyes began to flutter open.

"She's getting better!" Halauris cried out pleased that the heron seemed to be regaining consciousness.

"No, the effects will only last a matter of moments. If we don't get her medication soon…" Lineva said knowing that she didn't need to explain all the details to Halauris.

"Okay, we have to take her the Gallion Medical Center. It's right in the middle of the courtyard. They should be able to help her." Halauris said feeling like they still had a chance to save the heron.

"You know where it is?" Lineva asked, realizing that unfortunately she did not.

"Yeah, let's go!" Halauris said rushing to the door.

Lineva quickly followed with the heron wrapped up safely in her arms. Halauris held the banquet door open for them as Lineva jogged through. But before she could go, Halauris turned to look at her friends. They were laughing as they huddled together in a circle of tightly woven friendship. She was disappointed in them. She had wanted to believe that beneath their many layers of cattiness they still cared. But tonight had been nothing more then a blaring example of how wrong she'd been, about all of them…

"Halauris?" Lineva screamed trying to get the girl's attention.

Quickly, the girl joined her and they were off. Halauris ran at a fast pace all the way through the garden. Lineva imagined that their surroundings might actually be very beautiful. But at the moment, she really didn't care much for things like roses and rollen bushes.

Soon enough, they were out of the garden and into a long grassy field. Lineva could only imagine that this was the courtyard that the girl had been referring to. They ran through it at a wild pace trying to reach medical help. Lineva was careful not to jostle the heron as she ran. And from the sound of Elila's heartbeat, she could tell that the girl was holding on, at least for now.

They passed large buildings and even larger glass structures. Lineva could hear many voices off in the distance. She knew that they had wondered over into the predominantly nocturnal tribe area of the Gallion Village.

Finally, she saw a large structure emerge in the distance. She knew it had to be the medical center. But when they got closer she saw the one thing that made her want to scream out in horror. All the lights were off and there didn't appear to be anyone there.

"Oh my god…" Lineva whimpered as she walked the rest of the way up to the building.

There was really no point to keep moving. It was obviously closed. But she still needed to see it. She still wanted to put to touch its structure with her own hands and know that she really did do everything that she could.

"Now what?" Halauris asked desperately turning to the warrior for guidance.

The girl was decidedly optimistic and obviously not ready to give up. But there was nothing that they could do but sit and wait for the inevitable. The Lodge was too far. Their healers were all unavailable. And they were in the middle of enemy territory. Looking around at the surrounding buildings, Lineva didn't see a single ally in the mix. Now she realized, it would appear that Elila wasn't the only one in mortal danger.

"ELILA???" Both the warrior and the girl turned to hear the sound of a frantic voice. It was coming from somewhere in the distance. And it was rapidly moving towards them. But the voice sounded concerned and worried, and Lineva could only hope that the person was coming to help.

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"You know something? I remember the very first time that I saw you. You were so beautiful, so strong, so perfect. I knew that we were destined to be together." Narlene whispered as she stroked her hand up and down the long length of Kellis' arm.

"And do you remember how perfect everything was? Everything was so wonderful….until she came back." Narlene muttered, unaware of the fact that her voice had just dropped into a low hiss.

"I don't understand why they didn't leave her there. Why did they have to bring her back? She was fine out there in the swamp. That's where she belongs…out there with all the rats." Narlene growled thinking of the heron.

"She ruined everything! You used to belong to me! But then she came back. And everything changed." Narlene snapped straddling the warrior's firm body.

She thought that she would like this position better. She thought that it would make her feel closer to Kellis. But it only made her feel colder.

She was trying to imagine the warrior smiling. After all, the long white tresses of nightgown had to be tickling her soft skin. But instead of a smile, Kellis only moaned.

And it wasn't in the full-throated way that indicated pleasure. No, the warrior was definitely in pain. And no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, Narlene couldn't block out the screaming yelps.

"Kellis… honey, you have to stop. Someone is going to hear you. Don't you want to be alone with me? I know how much you like me. And I know how much you need me. But you have to be quiet." Narlene said desperately.

She lowered herself fully onto the warrior. She clasped the warrior's face trying to silence the guttural pleas for help. She tried to awaken the warrior, but she refused to even open her eyes.

In all honesty, Narlene was finding this position quite uncomfortable. The warrior's skin was damp and frigidly cold. Kellis was ruining the fine silk of her nightie. And the warrior's mouth was drooling all over her expertly manicured hand. This was certainly not the romantic encounter that Narlene had in mind.

"I know that you're upset. I know I shouldn't have brought her up. It's just that, people seemed to forget what it was like before she came back. But you remember don't you? Before Elila returned everyone knew that one day we would be married. But then she came back and suddenly you didn't seem to have anymore time for me." Narlene hissed, finally rolling off the warrior.

She walked to the mirror checking her reflection. There was a large stain right up the front from where she had laid on Kellis. It annoyed her to no extent. This night was supposed to be perfect. But now it was all stained and ugly.

"NO!" Narlene screamed at her own reflection.

With hands forming into claws she started to tear the nightgown from her own body. Madly she sliced through it trying her best to get it off her skin. She didn't stop until it hung in tattered shreds crumpled around her ankles. She squinted her eyes noticing that her body suddenly bore the wide red marks of blood.

Looking down at her hands she could see the bloody edges where several nails had fallen off. The sight nearly had her reeling in pure agony. Narlene hated the sight of blood. It made her ill.

Then she felt a sharp pain twisting into her right thigh. As she ran her hand over the skin, she felt a nail sticking out from her side. Hurriedly, she pulled it out relieved to finally have it gone.

Now, she simply looked a mess. Her nails would need to be re-polished. And something would have to be done about her scratches. But it was the nightgown that most upset her. She had loved it. It made her feel perfect and beautiful. It had made her feel worthy of Kellis.

But all that was left of it were a few tattered remains. Something would have to be done. She refused to continue her evening like this.

"Okay, this is a problem. But I can work through this." Narlene said trying to reassure only herself.

"Well, I simply can't go around like this can I?" Narlene asked the unconscious warrior.

She walked into the next room fetching her manicure bag off the bed. She noticed how sore her left hand was. That was where she had lost the nail. Even the very tip of her finger was starting to swell.

"Kellis, you have to be quiet." Narlene whispered throwing on a favorite bathrobe.

But the warrior couldn't hear her. Kellis only moaned as her body succumbed to a boiling fever. Gently, Narlene ran her hand across the Kellis' forehead. She watched as the warrior's body shook with violent tremors and spasms.

On some level, Narlene was concerned for her. Narlene knew that she had taken a big risk when she had drugged the warrior. Jolari root was quite a dangerous substance to work with.

But Kellis had left her with no choice. After last evening's incident with Zelsi, she wasn't willing to let the warrior carry on in such an indifferent manner. Narlene had decided that once and for all it was time to lay rightful claim to what was hers. And even if Kellis was mad now, she knew that in the end the warrior would thank her.

After all, Narlene was about to save her from a life with Elila. And she happened to know that she was the only woman who could ever make the warrior happy. There was just too much at stake to stop just because of some mild physical side effects.

Besides, Narlene had witnessed first hand just how resilient the warrior could be. In time, Kellis would recover from this. And then she would be good as new.

They could start their life together. Narlene knew that she could never tell Kellis how their union had come to be. The warrior could never ever know about the Jolari root.

But right now, none of those minor things mattered. All Narlene needed to be concerned with was salvaging what was left of her evening. Quickly, she pulled out a loose fitting dress from her bag.

Even though it was dangerous, she would have to go back out. She needed a new nightgown and something special to cap off what was sure to be a perfect night. But as she looked down at the warrior, she knew there was one distinctive problem to her intentions.

The warrior was making too much noise to be left alone. And even though she didn't think that Kellis would come to, there was always that possibility to think of. She would have to make sure that the warrior would be tightly locked away here in her rooms. No one could know that she had Kellis here. If anyone ever found out, it would ruin everything…

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 13

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"My gods, what happened to her?" A voice called out to them in the darkness.

Even with their enhanced jungle vision, neither Lineva nor Halauris could see the person speaking to them. Lineva could hear someone moving towards them. From the sound of the footsteps she could tell the person was tall and heavy.

"Who's there?" Halauris screamed out into the surrounding darkness. Even with the moon shinning down from above, they couldn't see the person calling out to them in the darkness.

"That snake! How did she find her again?" The voice asked suddenly appearing before the two jungle cats.

"Stay back!" Lineva screamed backing against the deserted building behind.

Halauris whimpered as she saw the shark emerge before them. Lineva tried to put herself between the shark and Halauris. The warrior didn't know what to expect. But at the moment, it was at least obvious that the shark wasn't there to feed.

Even thought their tribal war had officially ended with the Midali, neither jungle cat was interested in striking up a friendship. And even though the shark was clearly trying to remain at a distance, it did little to put either cat at ease. To make matters worse, Lineva could feel the heron weakening in her arms. The temporary effects of the rollen juice were giving way to the more permanent effects of the venom.

Stories of the Midali were legendary, all throughout the kingdom. Lineva had heard on more then one occasion just how unkind a shark could be to the body of a fallen enemy. The tales were bloody, horrific and gruesome. And it was something that the warrior would do anything to spare Halauris from having to see.

"Just let us go. Let us take her. No one has to get hurt." Lineva said realizing that even though she only saw the one shark, there could be others.

She had fought in the tribal war. She knew how stealthy their kind could be. She also knew that even if they ran at top speed, there was little chance that they could escape a hungry Midali hybrid.

Lineva knew that they would need a distraction. Looking down at Elila she realized that the heron was already lost. It might be necessary to sacrifice the few remaining moments of her life, so that she and Halauris could escape.

It was something that needed explanation. It was something that needed reason. But she knew it wasn't likely that the shark would allow her a few moments to talk things over with Halauris. If she were going to do anything, it would have to be now.

"Okay, just calm down. I'm not going to hurt you." The shark said stopping her impulse to move closer.

Even from this distance she could hear the heron's weakening heart. Elila didn't have much time left. And her tribe couldn't afford to let the heron die. The Midali had no interest in going through yet another war with the Fasara. And if Elila died, she knew that was exactly what would happen.

"Let us go." Lineva commanded through a tone of raw steel.

The warrior looked over at Halauris and could see that the girl wouldn't hold up much longer. As far as she was concerned, the girl had already been more then brave. Normally, the sight of a hungry shark appearing out of the darkness was enough to make anyone woman break down into tears.

But not Halauris, she was visibly frightened. And yet, she hadn't once cried. She hadn't even called out in fear. And Lineva respected that. It wasn't often that she found a woman that had the courage of a warrior.

"Please calm down." The shark pleaded.

She didn't know if the warrior was even aware of it, but her arms were trembling. Several times it looked like the heron would slip right out of them. But through some mercy, Elila had yet to crash to the ground.

The warrior tried to study the shark's body. At one time she would have been able to tell just what the shark was thinking. During the war, they had all been taught to read Midali body language. It came in handy especially during battle.

Some sharks only attacked in a streamline pattern. They would have to face you square on to strike your position. Others would attack from below lifting your body clear into the air with the strength of their limbs. The only problem was Lineva couldn't seem to remember a single thing that she had learned. And as the shark stood there in front of them, the she began to think that the Midali had already moved into attack formation.

"Here, take her!" Lineva screamed throwing the body of the unconscious heron at the rather surprised shark.

Before Halauris could even react the warrior had grabbed her arm and pulled her off into the darkness. They ran as fast as they could trying to make their way back to safety. But somewhere along the line, Lineva realized they were terribly lost.

Yet, she knew that they couldn't stop. The warrior clearly remembered how some Midali liked to hunt in schools. They would quietly surround their prey waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

"I can't…" Halauris gasped out stopping her movements right in the middle of the courtyard.

Lineva was more then frightened. The battle with the Midali had been her undoing. And she didn't want to revisit that horrifying place ever again.

But she had already sacrificed Elila. And she wouldn't loose anyone else. She wouldn't fail, not again. So, the warrior ignored every single protest that her tired body gave and ran back to Halauris' side. Quickly, she bent down and lifted the girl onto her back. And then she ran, further and faster then she had ever gone in her life.

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Carielle looked down at the wounded girl in her arms. She certainly hadn't been expecting that move on part of the warrior. But nonetheless it served her purposes. All she had wanted was to get Elila to a healer anyways.

Not wanting to waste anymore time Carielle ran into the Aquatic Hall looking for the nearest healer. She knew that Elila would recover as long as she received the proper medicine. But even moving at her fasted speed, she knew that Elila didn't have much longer to go.

"Baysha?" She screamed spotting the healer on the other side of the ceremonial pool.

Startling everyone in her path, she easily jumped into the waiting water below. She swam a short distance careful to keep the heron above the water at all times. By the time she reached the healer, Baysha had already seen the problem. The heron's medical condition was blatantly obvious. Elila's normally white skin had turned a thick shade of navy blue. But thankfully, Baysha was coming towards them with a long tube of thick green anti-venom.

"The snake found her again?" Baysha asked wondering how it was that the heron seemed to be so terribly unlucky.

"Carielle, I need you to keep her afloat while I administer the medication." The healer directed.

Quickly, Carielle did as she was directed. She held her breath hoping that somehow she had gotten Elila to the healer in time. Carielle had lost too many friends and family in the war to ever accept such horror again.

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She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her own hands had marred her beauty. There were deep red cuts running the length of her body. And it made her feel terribly dirty and ashamed.

Recently, she had been having such a hard time controlling her temper. Anger seemed to get the best of her. There were many times that Narlene had worried that she would act out in public. That she would loose control and strike out at some unsuspecting tribe mate.

But all the regret in the world couldn't change what she had just done. Carefully, she ran her hand over the longest scratch. It ran from the very middle of her stomach all the way down to her thighs. It was deep and ugly as it marked her flesh with an angry red swell.

Narlene turned away from the mirror. She couldn't look at herself anymore. She couldn't look at the marks. But she knew that she had to treat them. Reaching for a long tube of ointment and a bottle of antiseptic she began the slow process of treating her self-inflected injuries.

"Oh Kellis... I had wanted this to be perfect. But I don't know how I'm ever going to explain this to you." Narlene whispered as she tended her wounds with a soft and gentle touch.

The antiseptic stung as it disinfected the wide berths of her broken skin. But the cream was cool and thankfully it alleviated some of her discomfort. Finally, when all her wounds had been tended she turned to face her own reflection. The welts were just as angry looking as before. But at least now, Narlene knew that she had done everything possible to fix her error.

Quickly, she slipped into her sandals and pulled on her loosest dress. Even though the black material was soft and glittery it still stung as it rested against her wounded flesh. But she could tolerate it, at least for a little while. In all truth, Narlene didn't have much intention of staying clothed for much longer.

"What do I say? I know you're going to ask me about this." Narlene said to her reflection.

At the moment, she couldn't seem to think of a valid explanation for her injuries. Kellis was far too intelligent to believe some sort of ridiculous story of an accidental fall or a surreptitious collision. No, if she were going to explain away her swollen welt to the warrior she would have to do better then a case of calamity.

"Oh... that's perfect." Narlene whispered as she eagerly moved her hand lightly up her thigh.

Her abdomen and upper thighs hand been injured the most severely. And as her fingertip grazed across the tightly knitted scratches, she knew that she had the perfect explanation. And best of all, it would go hand in hand with her long term plans.

Walking back into the other room, Narlene went to check on the warrior. She could instantly tell that Kellis seemed to be getting decidedly worse. Even the warrior's skin seemed drawn, pale, and swollen. Narlene seemed to remember that these were all very important symptoms of something, she just couldn't remember what.

"Kellis, honey? I'm sorry that you still don't feel well. But there's nothing that I can do about that now. I have to go out for a little while. And I do hate to leave you like this." Narlene whispered, gently wiping the matted blonde hair away from the warrior's face.

"But this will be good. This will give you a chance to rest. We have a big night ahead of us and I need you to be at your best." Narlene whispered becoming troubled by the spasms tearing through the warrior's body. They seemed to be getting worse. It was almost like Kellis was having a seizure of some kind.

"Now since I have to go out I need you to be quiet while I'm going. It's getting late and people will be coming back soon. And no one can know that you're in here." Narlene said walking back over to her luggage bag.

It took a few seconds of sifting, but eventually Narlene found what she was looking for. She pulled out a thick navy blue scarf and wadded it up into a tight forming ball. She hated to have to do this. After all, this was one of her favorite scarves.

"Now, I'm just going to put this in your mouth while I'm gone. It's just to keep you quiet." Narlene whispered.

Quickly, the woman shoved the silk right into the warrior's waiting mouth. She was careful to avoid the warrior's feline fangs. And within seconds Narlene was pleased to see that she had effectively gagged her.

She heard Kellis cough and moan. It was clear that the gag was interfering with what little air the warrior had been getting before. But Narlene couldn't be concerned with that now. She knew that Kellis would survive.

After all, Kellis was strong. She could certainly handle something as silly as a silk scarf. So, without another backward glance, Narlene slipped out of the room locking the warrior inside. As she turned her key in the lock Narlene knew without question that she was doing the right thing. In time, Kellis would come to thank her for this. Because in the end, they would only have each other.

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"I think we're safe." Lineva wheezed falling down onto the ground. She let her body crash into the soft dirt knowing that she had used up all the resources she had left in her sturdy frame.

"Oh my god." Halauris whispered feeling like they had just done something terribly wrong.

"Elila... " The girl uttered obviously thinking of the terrible fate that had befallen the heron.

"We didn't have a choice. She was already dying. And that shark would have killed us." Lineva muttered trying to rationalize her abandonment of the heron.

"We have to go back for her." Halauris cried out wondering if there was anything left of the girl to find.

"NO! We can't." Lineva answered wondering where they even were.

"We have to get help!" Halauris screamed.

"Halauris listen me... what happened was awful. Yes, we had to sacrifice her. But we can't go back. And she wouldn't want us to. She would want to know that we were safe. She would want to know that she didn't die for nothing." Lineva gasped out trying to calm the girl.

For the time being, Halauris seemed content with the warrior's answer. She fell into the ground weeping onto the soft grass. She didn't even object when the warrior pulled her into a gentle embrace.

Lineva tried to calm the frightened girl. And in all honesty, the warrior was just as terrified as she was. But Lineva knew that she couldn't give into her emotions. She had to stay calm and rational, at least until they reached safety.

But as the warrior looked around, she realized that they had a very serious problem. Lineva had no idea where they were. Her only thoughts had been to get as far from the shark as possible. She hadn't given a single thought to direction. And now, as she gazed up at the unfamiliar building surrounding them, Lineva began to wonder if they were truly out of harm's way.

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The healer's nimble hands danced across the heron in a quick and easy pattern. Truthfully, Baysha didn't really know that much about heron physiology. And the fact that Elila was a half-breed certainly didn't make treating her any easier.

But the healer didn't need to be an expert to know that her patient was suffering from the effects of a lethal amount of venom. Baysha really wasn't sure how such a thing could have happened. This morning, she had given the heron medication before Elila returned to her tribe. She had seemed fine then, in fact Baysha had thought that she had nearly recovered.

And yet apparently that had not been the case. The healer knew that cobras had a special addiction to the taste of heron flesh. Anyone who had spent anytime in the swamp or the greenery basin knew that. But Baysha couldn't even pretend to understand the strange effect that venom had on a heron's body.

Either Elila had run into the snake again, or her body had somehow managed to store the venom. Luckily, the healer had managed to pour a full dose of anti-venom done the girl's throat. And the liquid seemed to be doing the trick.

As the healer ran her hand across Elila's chest, she could feel the girl's heart rate returning to almost normal. Although, Baysha silently admitted to herself that she wasn't exactly sure what normal for Elila was.

But there were other indicators that the heron was out of mortal danger. Her fever seemed to be going down. Her skin appeared less blue, flushed and swollen. Even the pupils of her eyes were alert and responsive. All in all, Baysha felt fairly confident in Elila's ability to recover.

"How is she?" Carielle asked with thick tones of concern lacing her voice.

The healer had to admit that she found Carielle's concern a bit odd. Carielle had seemed completely out of sorts when Elila had first arrived on their doorstep. And now, it would appear the shark was truly worried for the heron's well-being.

"Well, I think she's going to live." Baysha answered thankful that all the other sharks seemed to staying away.

It was hard enough to medically treat an outsider. The healer had been grateful that she had at least been given the chance to do without an audience. Once they had lifted the heron's body from the liquid floor of the Aquatic Hall, all the other sharks had cut them a rather wide berth.

Baysha knew that most of it had to do with the fact that Carielle had cautiously remained nearby. No Midali would dare to question Carielle's authority. After all, out here in the Gallion Village only Pedryn was her superior.

But the healer knew that it was more then Carielle's silent yet steely presence that had kept the sharks away. It was Elila herself. As Baysha had fervently worked on the heron, she had heard the whispers rising up from the watery depths below. They knew that a heron had been brought in. Carielle's rather splashy entrance had seen to that.

And now, they were all clamoring to know why. As she patiently waited for the emerald green anti-venom to work, Baysha heard the rumors circling around. They all wanted to know who the heron was. Before long, everyone knew that it was Elila. And from that point on, every Midali in the tribe seemed to be wondering why the daughter of the Fasara Alpha was amongst them.

"You think?" Carielle snapped not wanting to play guessing games when it came to things like life, death, and war.

"I'm sorry. I can't know for sure. I don't know enough about her body. We need a swamp healer." Baysha admitted wondering where they would even find one. Since the swamp had never been formally invited to participate in the Gallion they were known to keep a low profile when in the Village.

"But there is one thing I'm confused about." Baysha admitted eyeing her superior a bit cautiously.

"What's that?" Carielle asked wondering if Pedryn would once again have to treat the heron. She had hoped to keep her cousin as far as possible from Elila. But it just didn't seem like that was going to even be a remote possibility.

"There's no bite mark." Baysha said turning the girl's wrist over in her hand. Carielle moved closer to take a better look at the heron's unmarked flesh.

"I've looked her over from top to bottom, there's no bite mark. I don't know how she was even exposed to the venom." Baysha admitted.

Carielle cautiously knelt over the heron. She could tell from the crumpled state of Elila's dress that the healer had indeed looked everywhere. But Carielle could see nothing out of the ordinary. And she had to admit that she was just as confused as Baysha.

"Her skin had almost turned completely blue. Even her lips were the color of sky. I thought heron's only turned blue if they were bitten?" Carielle asked the healer.

"So did I. In fact, I've always heard that the blue stems from the initial bite. To heal them most effectively you have to make sure that the initial bite is disinfected and treated." Baysha said hoping that Carielle might know something more about herons then she did.

"And you didn't find anything?" Carielle asked again wondering if there was a place that the snake could have hidden the mark.

"Trust me, I looked everywhere. No snake bit this girl." Baysha said adamant that she had done a thorough examination.

"Then how did the venom get inside Elila?" Carielle asked feeling like they were missing a very important fact.

"I have no idea." Baysha answered hoping that once the heron regained consciousness she would be able to tell them.

Carielle glanced around the Aquatic Hall realizing how silent everything had become. All the Midali seemed to be patiently waiting for some sign or indication. She knew that there would have to be explanation. They couldn't just start an awards banquet with Elila passed out in the back of the hall.

She knew that there would have to be answers for the many murmured questions circling through the water. But fortunately, Carielle knew that it wasn't her responsibility to provide them. Pedryn would have to be the one to explain the heron's presence to the tribe.

"I have to go speak with Pedryn. You will stay with her?" Carielle whispered to the healer.

"Of course." Baysha answered grateful that the shark was finally going to collect her cousin. In all honesty, the healer didn't understand why Pedryn hadn't been sent for before. Baysha could have used another healer especially in strange circumstances like this one.

Carielle calmly walked out of the hall ignoring the sound that her wet clothes made as they clung to her body. There was nothing that she hated more then wet clothes. But there was nothing she could do about it now; she didn't have time to change. She had to find Pedryn. And she could only hope that her cousin would be able to handle the news.

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"Miss, excuse me… Miss?" Narlene tried to avoid the sound of the voice that seemed to be homing in on her position.

Once again, she tried to avoid the rather annoying sales girl as she ducked behind another rack of lacy bedroom clothes. She hated to be rushed but between this woman and Kellis' weakening health Narlene knew that she just didn't have much time. Hurriedly, she ran her hand through the rack finally landing on one item of some interest.

It was nothing like the one that she had before, but it would suffice. It was a powder blue lace teddy that could only be described as sheer. But it came with a long blue robe that Narlene knew would look devastatingly perfect on her.

"Miss, I'm sorry but we're closed. You're going to have to leave and come back tomorrow." The sales girl said finally having caught up to Narlene.

Narlene eyed the girl trying to determine the best approach. The girl was obviously of rodent descendant, her tiny hands were a dead give away. Her eyes were small and dark as they blinked rapidly under the bright lights of the small boutique.

There was nothing that Narlene despised more then a rodent hybrid. There were all so small and shifty. And their classically nervous demeanor was enough to make Narlene want to scream.

But Narlene could instantly tell that a hard approach wouldn't work this girl. This small rat was terribly frightened of her. And Narlene could completely understand why After all, she did have feline blood running through her veins. Under normal circumstances there heritage alone would make them natural enemies. But this was the Gallion Village; everyone was supposed to be on their best tribal behavior.

"Really? But there are people still up at the register." Narlene cooed trying her best to come off soft and sweet.

Truthfully, she had known the boutique was closed even before she came in. She had to force her way passed a mechanical lock to even get in the place. But she had no intention of going home empty handed. Kellis deserved a perfect night together and Narlene was determined to make that happen.

"Yeah, they're just waiting to check out. But we're closed." The rat answered nervously holding her hands defensively across her chest.

Narlene had to stop her every natural instinct to take a good long swipe at the girl with her strong jungle-cat hand. The girl was so small and tiny; it would be easy to roll her right over. But Narlene reminded herself that she wasn't here to play silly games with the rat. She was here for something beautiful.

"Well, this is all that I want. Can't I just go check out?" Narlene warmly smiled at the girl hoping that the rat would give into her request.

The rat seemed to look around while she considered the cat's request. Even though she was a rodent that didn't mean that she was stupid. She had seen Narlene sneak into the boutique. And she had no intention of rewarding such rude behavior.

"Sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You can come back tomorrow." The rat said smiling sweetly at the cat. She could see a few other sales girls still on the floor. And even though there were some customers still present, it didn't excuse the cat's behavior.

"I can't…I just got married tonight. I need this. You don't want my wedding night to be unmemorable do you?" Narlene asked trying to appeal to the rat's sense of romance.

Truthfully Narlene had no idea if rat's even had a sense of romance. She had to admit that her knowledge of rodents was very small. But she really didn't need to know that much just to bat them around on the floor.

"Sorry…But congratulations." The rat said trying desperately to stay firm and focused.

She had spent her life being bullied by people like Narlene. And even though she did feel for the cat's circumstance she didn't even believe that it was the truth. There wasn't even a wedding band wrapped around the cat's neck. The rat didn't know why Narlene wanted the teddy, but she knew that it was most certainly not for a honeymoon.

"Listen, all I want is this. Now I want to walk over to that register and you're going to check me out personally. And you're going to stop being such an incessant pain. You're making me cranky." Narlene said feeling the familiar waves of anger rise up.

To accentuate her point, Narlene walked dangerously close the rat. After everything that she had already done this evening beating up one defenseless rodent certainly wasn't above her. And just to make sure that the girl understood her intentions, Narlene growled ever so slightly. She opened up her mouth, but only a little. She wanted the rat to get just a glimpse of her feline teeth.

"Of course…" The rat whispered escorting Narlene over to the counter.

Narlene was delighted to see that she was finally getting the service that she deserved. And even more delicious was the fact that the rat was literally trembling before her. Their kind was always so easy to intimidate.

"Here you are." The rat said putting her new blue teddy into a soft white bag.

"Well, thank you so much." Narlene said smiling madly. The rat flinched under the cat's stare and she nervously backed away from the counter. But Narlene only turned to leave. She didn't have any more time to spend frightening a mere rodent. After all, she had a warrior eagerly awaiting her return.

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She found her all alone and frightened kneeling in the clearing. Her normally powerful frame had fallen over into the muddy grown. And all though the shark couldn't be positive, she would swear that Pedryn was crying.

"Hey…" Carielle whispered.

She didn't want to startled her cousin. She knew from personal experience how physically painful that could be. It was much better to alert Pedryn to her presence. After all, if she had been crying Carielle knew that the interruption would be most unwelcome.

"I'll be there in a minute." Pedryn snapped not bothering to turn around.

Carielle felt her body freeze in place. She knew that tone. It was a tone of ice and violence. Carielle didn't know what exactly was bothering her cousin but she was beginning to think that she didn't want to be involved.

Tonight was a time of celebration. Tonight they honored the most accomplished warriors of their tribe. And tonight, Pedryn would fill in for her Alpha in a most sacred of roles. Pedryn should be filled with pride and joy. But instead, the shark was angry and obviously very emotionally unstable.

"Ah, Pedryn…" Carielle said knowing that she had to let her cousin know that the heron was inside the hall.

Pedryn was going to have to explain her presence to the other Midali warriors. Carielle was pleased that thus far her tribe seemed to have taken the heron's presence with a silent grain of salt. No one was being violent or even demanding. They were all clearly waiting for some kind of guidance from their Alpha.

"I need a minute Carielle." Pedryn hissed. She tried to put as much warning into her tone as possible. She didn't want to hurt Carielle. But she was in no mood for talk.

She had come out here to be alone. The furtherst garden from the Aquatic Hall seemed like such a quiet place to sit and gather her thoughts. But within moments, her thoughts had turned dark and ugly. Her body had rapidly filled with guilt. And now all she wanted was to let the earth swallow her whole.

"Listen, it's obvious that you're having some kind of moment out here…but we have a problem." Carielle said trying to stay a safe distance away from her cousin.

"Then handle it!" Pedryn snapped wishing that her cousin would show more initiative.

It was obvious that she was the better choice for Alpha. It constantly seemed like Carielle needed her hand held for the most simplistic of tasks. Pedryn respected her cousin's ability as a warrior. But as a leader, Carielle left much to be desired.

"Pedryn, what is going on? You should be happy tonight. Why are you out here all alone?" Carielle asked letting her tone convey her annoyance.

She knew that Pedryn was in no mood for confrontation. But Carielle felt that she couldn't just leave. Her cousin was obviously very upset. And there was still the heron to discuss.

"I don't have to explain myself to you." Pedryn hissed finally rising from the ground.

Carielle almost visibly winced when she saw her cousin rise to her full towering height. She knew that if they ever got into a physical confrontation there would be little that she could do to defend herself. In nearly every way, Pedryn was most definitely her physical superior.

"No, you don't…I just want to help." Carielle whispered trying to calm her cousin's flaring temper.

"There's nothing that you can do to help. Please, just leave me alone." Pedryn said softening her tone just a bit.

She really hadn't meant to start a fight with Carielle. She just wanted to be left alone with her grief and misery. Crying was demeaning enough on its own merit, she certainly didn't want an audience.

"The ceremony is about to begin." Carielle whispered knowing that every single member of their tribe was gathering in the Aquatic Hall anxiously awaiting Pedryn's arrival.

But Pedryn didn't give her another response. Her cousin only turned her back, walking deeper into the water gardens. Carielle followed knowing that she didn't have much choice in the matter. Truthfully, she would have loved to give Pedryn a few moments to collect herself. But now was certainly not the time.

"Carielle, please…" Pedryn pleaded not wanting to emotionally break down in front of her cousin.

"I'm sorry. But I have to tell you about Elila." Carielle said hoping that her cousin would find a way to solve their little problem.

At first, Pedryn didn't say anything. She simply froze in place listening to the sounds of the garden swirling all around her. Somewhere in the distance she could hear a humming bird. And directly to her right she could see a swirling moth. And for just a moment, she closed her eyes and took it all in.

She tried to focus on the bright beams of the moon. She tried to listen to the beat of her own heart. She even tried to stare at the black behind her own eyes. But nothing she did blocked out the words that her cousin had just spoke.

Carielle wanted to discuss Elila. And Pedryn couldn't begin to imagine why. She hoped it wasn't because of something untoward that the heron had done. Pedryn had no desire to create anymore bad relations between their tribes.

Even though her mouth opened to ask why, Pedryn couldn't seem to get the words out. Elila was the reason she had secluded herself outside in the first place. Elila was the reason why Pedryn felt like she couldn't go through with the ceremony. And now, Carielle felt the need to discuss the heron at quite conceivably the worst moment possible.

"She's here." Carielle whispered when she noticed that her cousin seemed unable to respond. Pedryn's eyes narrowed on the grounds surrounding them. She didn't know what her cousin was talking about. She couldn't begin to guess what could have brought Elila back out to their territory.

"She's inside…in the hall." Carielle added when she saw Pedryn scan the grounds around them.

"Why?" Pedryn finally managed to whisper.

She really didn't know what could have brought Elila back out to their grounds. But she only hoped that the heron had come alone. She knew that other jungle cats would not be welcome amongst her people.

"The snake…Elila was all blue…and she could barely breath." Carielle muttered not sure how much detail her cousin really needed to know.

"Is she all right?" Pedryn asked worried that the heron was suffocating on venom.

"Yeah, for now. Baysha worked on her. She gave her a lot of anti-venom. She said that Elila seems to be doing better. But I think she could really use your input on the subject." Carielle said hoping that her cousin would be able to pull it together long enough to conduct tonight's ceremony.

"Of course." Pedryn whispered realizing that once again, the heron apparently needed her services.

Both of the sharks silently walked back into the hall. Carielle kept carefully glancing at her cousin hoping to read her mood and thoughts. But whatever was bothering Pedryn she was apparently going to keep to herself. Truthfully, Carielle realized that she probably knew what was bothering the towering Alpha shark. She only hoped that seeing Elila wouldn't make a difficult situation painfully worse.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 14

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They walked on determined to find something familiar or safe. But no matter how far or fast they moved they just seemed to get further away from where they needed to be. And as they moved into what had to be yet another circle, Halauris was more then ready to give up.

"Let's just stop. I can't walk anymore. If we just sit still someone has to come along." Halauris said throwing herself onto the ground.

She wasn't trying to be difficult. She was just trying to be practical. Because at the moment, they were very much lost.

"We can't stop Halauris. We have to find help. We have to get back to the tribe." Lineva screamed desperately needing to release her pent up emotions in any way possible.

Halauris seemed to understand that the anger wasn't truly directed at her. Instead, she seemed to accept the quiet outburst with a deep long sigh. They couldn't keep moving like this. They were depleting themselves both mentally and physically in their futile attempt to find their way back home.

She just had to believe that if they stopped for just a moment, they could decipher their location. Besides, she didn't think that they were in any real danger. After all, it had been hours since Halauris had seen another shark. They had to be some place safe.

And it was obviously someplace out of the way. They were in what could only be described as the very thick of the woods. Lineva had run for cover in an attempt to escape harm's way. But what was obviously a brilliant strategic escape had left them with no bearings to get home.

Not to mention the fact that at night, everything seemed to look different. Buildings that might seem warm and inviting by the light of day had now turned sinister and scary. And given what had just happened, neither of them were willing to trust a stranger or unfamiliar environment.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be able to figure out where we are by looking at the stars?" Halauris asked the wheezing warrior.

Lineva didn't answer. She only shot the girl a hard angry stare that let her know all that she needed. It was quite obvious that if Lineva had that particular skill she would have used it by now.

"What about a park? Or a garden?" Halauris mused looking at the exotic and rough foliage that surrounded them.

"What?" Lineva snapped obviously not following the girl's train of thought.

"Maybe we're in a park? You know, like the one that's across from the Lodge. Wouldn't it be funny if we've been walking in circles around our own tribe." Halauris mused trying to keep her mind of what the real problem was.

"Get up! We have to keep moving." Lineva hissed not in any kind of mood to play along with the girl's obvious denial.

She knew that this evening had been sheer torture for Halauris. She also knew that the girl had held up better then she ever could have asked. But they had a task to accomplish. They had to get back to the Lodge before daybreak. Lineva felt that she had to tell Kellis in person what had happened to the heron. She had to be the one who gave the team Alpha the tragic news. As a fellow warrior, Kellis deserved no less.

Halauris obeyed standing up once again on her shaky and unstable legs. Despite her ancestral heritage for the hunt, the girl knew that she had used up whatever prowess she may have possessed. She was just tired now. She was tired of fighting off her fear.

But she knew that the warrior was right. They had to keep moving. Yet, she had no idea what direction they should head. It was quite clear that Lineva didn't really care where they ended up. The warrior just needed to keep moving. As long as her feet were covering the ground then she wouldn't have to stop and think about Elila. She wouldn't have to remember the dead heron. And Halauris could truly understand her sentiment.

It was just that she simply couldn't carry on like this for much longer. They needed to return to the tribe. They had to tell the others what had happened. Arrangements had to be made, as difficult as it might be.

"No, we should go this way." Halauris said pointing to a row of large overturned logs.

"Why?" Lineva asked suspicious of such tumultuous terrain. She knew that the girl was tired. And so was she. If it came down to it, the warrior didn't think that she would be able to carry Halauris to safety.

"Because this is the only way we haven't gone yet." Halauris whispered heading towards the logs.

Lineva mutely followed realizing that the girl was right. The warrior knew that she should be grateful that at least one of them had a sense of direction. And in a few moments time, they were both silently engaged in the rather difficult task of climbing over turned logs and upended stumps.

This was far from the easiest path to take. But Halauris felt confident that at least they would no longer be moving in a circle. They would certainly be moving forward, she just didn't really know where they would end up.

As they moved on over the slight inclination in the dirty path, Halauris realized that if she weren't so tired she would be absolutely petrified. They were climbing through an area of woods that could only be described as midnight black. The foliage was so thick that they couldn't even see the stars shining down from overhead. And every few moments or so they would hear the call of animal that neither of them could identify.

"What was that?" Halauris whispered as she caught sight of some brief movement off in the distance.

She hovered on the end of a log hoping not to loose her footing. She waited for the warrior to catch up to her side. Together they scanned the forest below. They only had to wait a moment, but it was long enough. Soon they both saw a dark figure moving out of the underbrush towards them.

"Wait here!" Lineva whispered easily dropping to the ground below.

Halauris considered her statement but then thought better of it. If there were others moving towards them it would be better to fight side by side then separated from one another. So with the ease and grace that only a feline would ever know, she softly drifted to the ground below landing perfectly on her feet.

"OHGODS! Please don't hurt me. I mean you no harm." The voice of the figure called out to them from somewhere behind the surrounding tree.

Lineva and Halauris glanced at each other thankful that for once they were concerned the more threatening presence. Neither of them had any desire to encounter another predator tonight. And whatever was out there definately seemed to be more afraid of them.

"Come out where I can see you." Lineva called trying to see what had found their position here in the thick black woods.

"Okay…here I come… My name is Tya." The voice called out moving from behind the tree. The person had stayed far enough away that neither jungle cat could clearly make out her features. And for some reason, Halauris felt rather unsettled by the presence of the seemingly innocuous stranger.

"Closer! But move slowly." Lineva directed still trying to figure out what it was that had followed them.

"Okay, here I am. I'm Tya, just your normal average garden-variety snake. I mean you no harm. I'm of no threat to you. If you'll please just let me go I'll be right out of your way." The garden snake muttered as it obeyed the warrior's request.

Both jungle cats cast their gaze over her form with a strict studious gaze. They took in her small height, her darkly colored skin, and her soft green eyes. The poor thing didn't even have fangs. Halauris let out a deep sigh of relief when she realized that they were in fact safe. Even Lineva visibly relaxed in the snake's company.

But despite their rather close examination of the snake it was unfortunate that neither of them looked close enough. If they had, they might have been able to see past the pale green eyes to the red-rimmed pupils of a cobra. But neither of them looked through the mirage to see the truth. So instead, Licara remained completely hidden behind a wall of visual deceit.

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Pedryn was both surprised and angry at the sight that greeted her. She was thankful that from all apparent signs, Baysha had managed to rescue the heron from the very jaws of death. And on some level she was even grateful that Zeranna appeared to care for the heron.

When she walked into the Aquatic Hall, Pedryn didn't know quite what she expected. She realized that the presence of the Fasara Alpha's daughter would certainly cause quite an uproar, especially at an awards banquet. But she hadn't envisioned such an easy acceptance.

All the members of her tribe were quietly awaiting her words as they languidly swam in the water below. None of them moved closer to the unconscious heron. And Pedryn was thoroughly grateful for at least a small reprieve.

But it was Zeranna that confounded her. It was the way that the shark was hovering over the heron. It was the way that she was tenderly stroking Elila's hair. It was the way that her empathy dripped from her body that made Pedryn feel jealous and angry all at once.

If only their circumstances were slightly different she would be in a much different position. But they weren't and Elila would never trust her. No matter how much she wished it to the contrary.

"Pedryn, I'm glad you're here. I could use your assistance." Baysha said motioning to the sprawled out form of the heron.

Quickly, Zeranna moved to the side allowing Pedryn access to the heron's body. Tenderly, she cupped Elila's face noticing the cold slickness of her skin. She opened her mouth as gently as she could to peer down the girl's throat.

She easily saw the complete discoloration and inflammation that was truly indicative of venom. But Pedryn had seen Elila's throat earlier this morning. It hadn't looked like this then. Elila had somehow been exposed to more venom.

Pedryn had to stop herself from storming out of the hall. It was obvious that the snake had stalked the heron. And if this had been a case of natural predation the cobra would have bit into the heron's flesh. After all, the purpose to hunting the heron was to receive the intoxicating effects that came with the release of the venom.

No, this was truly a case of murder. The snake would receive no physical pleasure from forcing Elila to swallow venom. It would appear that the snake was far more devious then Pedryn had originally thought.

And in some way, the alpha shark felt responsible. She had sent Elila back to the jungle cats convinced that they could protect her. She was certain that they would be able to hunt down the snake that had brutally attacked the only daughter of their tribal Alpha.

But apparently, she had overestimated the jungle cats's ability to protect their own. And Pedryn was determined not to make that mistake again. She would have hunted the snake now, if her tribe wasn't waiting for her.

"Well?" Baysha asked hoping for a second opinion on her work.

"She'll recover. Her skin is already losing its blue tinge." Pedryn said, commenting on the returning white pallor.

"You did well Baysha, thank you." Pedryn answered.

She glanced around the Hall realizing that she couldn't put off the inevitable any longer. It was time for her to make a speech. It was time for her to present her awards. Thinking of what was to come, Pedryn knew that this was the very last place that she wanted to be. And in some way, having Elila there in the Hall seemed to round out the evening with some form of cruel irony.

"Zeranna, will you sit with her?" Pedryn asked realizing that someone would have to stay with the wounded heron.

"Of course..." She answered realizing that the heron had become more then a question of medical well-being. Now, it was a question of security. And apparently, Pedryn was worried about the heron's safety.

"Shall we?" Carielle asked speaking up from her formerly silent place at her cousin's side.

Pedryn only nodded and together they went off to start the evening's events. Pedryn knew that they were in for a long night. And as she gazed back at Elila's prone form, she didn't know how she was ever going to get through it.

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"We're lost. We're trying to find our way to back to the Lodge. It's a holding of the Fasara tribe. Do you have any idea where we are?" Halauris asked the snake.

"Oh yes, you are far from where you need to be. Yes, you are very far. But I can help you." The snake said slithering away from the two cats. It was clear that she was still very much afraid of their forms.

"Tell me, how did you get to be so lost?" The snake asked obviosly very nervous around their more impressive forms.

"We've had a tragedy. Please, you have to help us." Halauris whispered hoping that the snake could help them find their way.

"Come, I will take you back. Follow me… come come..." The snake said, walking off not even waiting to see if the two cats would follow.

"I'm not so sure about this." Lineva whispered convinced that they could be walking right into a trap.

"She's harmless. Besides, we have to get back. We have to tell the other about Elila." Halauris answered moving right behind Tya.

Begrudgingly, Lineva followed not sure where she was being led to. As a warrior, she had learned not to trust outsiders. And despite the rather harmless appearance of this snake, there was just something about her that seemed off.

"Tell me, what has happened? Why are you stranded so far from your home?" The snake asked leading the two cats in the beginning of a circle.

Licara could have easily directed the two jungle cats to the safety of their home. But she had no intention of doing so. Not until she had learned all that she needed.

Besides, both of the cats were totally unaware that her meager appearance was nothing more then an ocular illusion. They truly believed that she was nothing more then a garden snake hybrid. And she certainly had no desire to tell them otherwise.

"It was awful…" Halauris gasped reliving the night's events for the first time.

"Look, just get us home." Lineva snapped knowing that an outsider shouldn't be the first to hear of Elila's death. Kellis needed to know first, she deserved no less. Lineva knew that she couldn't let it be any other way.

"Sorry…I leave you to your walk." The snake said hurrying off the path. Licara tried to look as frightened as possible as she ran off into the thick underbrush.

"NO WAIT! Tya please… She didn't mean to be so rude. We've just had an awful night. Please…we need your help." Halauris gasped out trying to stop the retreating form of the snake. She knew that they would never make it back, not without help anyways.

Lineva felt like giving her companion a good long piece of her mind. But she knew that Halauris was simply trying to get them home. And she couldn't fault her for that. As a warrior, she should be the one protecting Halauris. But throughout most of the evening it seemed that their roles had painfully reversed.

Thankfully, the snake stopped moving. Licara stood off in the distance tying to put on a convincing show. She wanted them to believe that she was frightened and conflicted. She had much to discover and she had to earn their trust.

Finally, after much acted out consternation the masquerading cobra returned to the jungle cats. She began walking back down the path leading them far from where they needed to go. She had to find out about Elila. She had to know if the heron had died. Because more then anything, Licara needed to know if her devious plan had been an unbridled success.

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She waited with an eager heart and a beaming smile. This would be the perfect solution to her rather unfortunate problem. This would tie up all those little loose ends that had been left by her rather ill-timed angry episode. But better then that, it would be the perfect seal to a well thought out plan.

After she walked through these swinging black doors, Narlene knew there was no turning back. She would permanently change things about herself. She would do things that could never be undone. But it was worth it. She would do anything to claim Kellis as her own.

The place was called the Claw, and Narlene couldn't think of a more apt name. She had gotten on a transport and rode all the way over to the dimly lit crime ridden area of the Village. But as she walked the streets of this rather dangerous neighborhood no one even cast her second glance.

No one would dare confront her. She was a jungle cat born of only the most pure lineage. She was predator and had no qualms about deterring anyone from her path.

This area was crawling with gators, dingoes, and coyotes. There were even a few critters that one could only find in the swamp. But thinking of the murky waters and humid air of Black Moon only made Narlene think of the heron. And now wasn't the time to think of Elila. Now was the time to focus solely on Kellis.

She had lingered outside the entrance of the Claw for several lengthy minutes. It's not the she was having second thoughts about coming. She wasn't even reconsidering her actions. She was simply waiting for the right person to cross her path.

Though she had a reputation for being a good girl, demure, polite and always modest Narlene knew her way around the tribe's darker side. And after careful thought, she had come all the way out here to stand right in front of it. The Claw was a traditional club, a throw back from a time when the Fasara were more predatory and far more primal.

Now her tribe liked to party and quietly converse like any other hybrids in the Kingdom. They liked to engage in non-violent activities that were basically a sacrilege to their proud bloodline. But Narlene knew of how things used to be.

And the Claw, was the perfect place to get in touch with her predatory heritage. Here she could find all those activities that her tribe felt were better left forgotten. And here she would change Kellis' future forever.

After a while, she was worried that she would have to give up. It had nearly been an hour and she hadn't even seen one other jungle cat on the street. And Narlene knew that she was in a bit of a time crunch. She had to get back to Kellis. And the last transport wasn't too far off.

But just when she had given up all hope a rather surly jungle cat walked in her direction. She was young, probably around Kellis' age. Her height and weight weren't identical but it was close enough to suffice. And from the look of her rather hazy glare Narlene knew that she had caught her attention.

"What's a young thing like you doing out here? This isn't a place for children." The hybrid sneered stopping only inches from Narlene's smaller frame.

Narlene looked her up and down deciding that although not perfect, this jungle cat would have to do. She was definitely attractive which Narlene was pleased to see. It certainly wouldn't be hard to close her eyes and imagine that this creature was her beloved Kellis.

The hybrid was dressed in a loose fitting gray outfit. The material appeared to be soft, Narlene even thought that it might be silk. The top was small and dainty showing off the hybrid's high round breasts and firmly toned stomach. Narlene gazed at her arms and legs noticing the thick tone of her muscles and decided this creature was probably a warrior, or had at least been trained as such.

Her blonde hair was a little bit lighter then Kellis'. It was more platinum then golden. And it was a little longer too. But Narlene realized that such things couldn't be helped, not on such short notice anyways.

But Narlene instantly loved her eyes. They were large round circles of perfect baby blue. They were just like Kellis'. So close that for just a moment, Narlene got lost in her imagination.

"You like what you see?" The hybrid said not used to being stared at in such a lusty way, especially not by someone like Narlene.

"Yes, yes I do." Narlene said moving closer to the hybrid. Boldly, she put her hands on the warrior's shoulders feeling the skin under her fingertips.

The hybrid was greasy and just a bit dirty. Narlene would have to change that. She wouldn't loose her virginity to someone that was unkempt.

But Narlene liked the feel of her muscle moving against her hand. This hybrid was strong, perhaps even stronger then Kellis. And Narlene found the revelation intoxicating to say the least.

"You're a naughty thing aren't you? Does your alpha know where you are?" The hybrid seethed moving her face dangerously close to Narlene neck.

Narlene turned her head to the side allowing the warrior to inhale the scent of her body. And from the sound of a deep growl coming from the hybrid, Narlene could tell that she had enjoyed the aroma. Things were moving ahead nicely. From the feel of the warrior's body pressing into her own, Narlene could tell that she was definitely interested.

"It's not nice to play games with strangers, especially if you don't intend to finish." The hybrid said pushing Narlene back against the wall of the building behind.

The girl hit the concrete with a gentle thud. The movement didn't even force one strand of her perfectly kept hair out of place. And the hybrid looked her over with a fierce contempt.

She had known many women like this one. She had been ousted from her village because of them. And now that she was recluse living all on her own, she had no desire to play games with a wayward jungle kitten. It was time to show this girl that the world wasn't some soft cushy place to explore all on her own. It was time to show this girl what real fear was.

"Oh, I intend to finish this." Narlene said pushing away from the wall.

She walked towards the warrior placing her hands on the hybrid's shoulders. She let her hands drop down to the warrior's breasts as she fondled the soft swells through the fabric. Her nipples instantly hardened in her hands and Narlene couldn't help but lick her lips in anticipation.

The warrior could barely believe what was happening. Women like this one didn't fondle perfect strangers on the corner of a dark street. She began to think that this woman had to be drunk or out of control in some way.

And people were watching them now. She could see the outlines of shadows moving back and forth in front of the windows from the Claw behind. They had an audience and this woman didn't even seem to mind.

"I have a need. And I want you to ease it. Will you do that for me?" Narlene whispered slipping her hands under the fabric of the warrior's top. The hybrid's bare breasts felt like warm silk in her hands as she eased her fingers around the delicate swells.

"Who are you?" The hybrid seethed out unable to stop the pleasure mounting in her body. The woman's mere touch was driving her insane.

"I'm Narlene. But who I am isn't important. All that matters is that I'm here now I need something from you. Can you give it to me?" Narlene whispered accentuating her question by gently pinching the woman's nipples.

"Oh yes…I can help you." The hybrid gasped out.

The warrior began to wonder if they were going to do it right there on the street. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that she had engaged in a rather public display of affection. And in this part of town, no one would even give them a second glance.

But as she caught the devilish stare filling the girl's eyes she suddenly knew that Narlene had far more in mind then a simple rendezvous. But to be perfectly honest, she couldn't wait to find out what it was. There was something different about this woman, something sinfully dangerous.

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She could barely breathe. The walls were simply closing in around her. She had no place to go. And there was no place left to hide. She was out there in the wide open struggling to find a familiar face or a single touch of kindness.

But she was all alone. And Yamina knew that she was going to have to fend for herself. She just didn't know where to begin or how to fix what was obviously wrong with her.

Logically, she knew that she was having a panic attack. She had had them before many times. They started after the brutal rape. They started after that awful night on the water.

And yet recently, she had been doing so well. Yamina kept a little calendar where she marked off each day that she didn't suffer through the pangs of anxiety. To anyone else, Yamina knew that she still seemed weird and sometimes even crazy.

But she knew how well she was doing. It had been a full eight weeks since the last time she hyperventilated at the memory. It had been six weeks since the last time she wept so completely and utterly she forced herself to vomit. And it had been three weeks since she had literally climbed the walls in crazed agitation.

She had been doing so well. She had her little markings to prove it. Everything had been fine until Elila said that name. She wanted to be mad at her friend. She wanted to curse Elila in a screaming tantrum for telling her what she did.

But Yamina couldn't do that. She couldn't fault the heron for telling her the truth. She just could be angry with her friend for daring to mention Carielle.

To her, it sounded like such a soft and fluidic name. It sounded like someone who was gentle and moved with the subtle grace of a bird. It didn't sound like the name of a boorish shark that had literally ripped her apart.

Yet, it was her attacker's name. And for some reason Yamina felt like screaming it from the rooftop. She wanted to feel the name as it rested on her tongue. She wanted to savor it's essence.

But more then that, she wanted to own it. She wanted to control the power that it had over her. She wanted a way to control her own fear and her aching depression.

Yet after hours of solitary weeping, Yamina had found no such way to ease her pain. Instead, she succeeded in working herself into a hysterical frenzy. And she knew that she had long since past the point of merely needing a friendly shoulder to cry on. She needed to be sedated. She needed something to take away the pain.

So, she left her rooms walking the long halls of the Lodge trying desperately to find a healer. She knew that they would help her. Everyone in the tribe thought she was a mental case anyways.

But she walked up stairs and down halls and couldn't find anyone. And the more she searched the angrier she became. She wanted to yell at someone. She wanted to someone to suffer for what had been done to her. And more then that, she wanted everyone to know.

She stormed down the hall looking for someone to break her silence. Briefly, she gave thought to Elila. She wondered what her heron friend would say if she knew what she was planning. She wondered if Elila would even try to stop her.

Instantly, she knew that the heron wouldn't. No one hated their forced silence more then Elila. But as she scoured the halls looking for some sign of life she couldn't help but wonder if anyone would even believe her.

After all, the truth might sound more convincing coming from the normally rational heron. But Elila did just attend an awards banquet on the practical arm of a shark. Yamina knew that the tribe had questions. She could only imagine what half-truths Elila had to concoct to protect her precious alpha's secret.

Yamina was rounding the corner on the fourth floor searching for Melaryn or any of the warriors trained in the art of healing. They would know how to help her. And just maybe they would even listen.

But she never reached Melaryn or anyone else for that matter. Someone screaming in pain stopped her dead in her tracks. At first Yamina thought that she had to be hearing things. And then she simply thought that she was misunderstanding the nature of the screaming voice. She began to think that it was someone calling out in pleasure.

Yet she knew better then that. It wasn't so very long ago that her own voice had cried out in a similar fashion. Yamina was no stranger to pain. And she certainly recognized it's voice. Turning on her heels, she ran back the other direction trying desperately to find the source of the scream.

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"I'm…" The hybrid tried to properly introduce herself to Narlene.

After all, it seemed only appropriate. The woman had already fondled the merchandise she figured it might be time for a formal greeting. But before she could even finish her sentence Narlene placed a warm hand on her mouth.

"Shh…I don't need to know your name." Narlene whispered hoping that she could somehow convince this hybrid to play along.

"Okay, you want to play at the whole mysterious strangers thing. Kitten, I can come along for the ride. Now, what do you say we find a place a little more private." The warrior whispered pulling Narlene's body firmly against her own.

At one moment, the warrior had considered having the girl right there on the street. But there was something about Narlene. There was something deliciously unexpected that she wanted to savor. And she really couldn't give the girl a thorough sexing if they were standing on a dark corner.

"You read my mind." Narlene whispered pulling a long jangling key out of her dress pocket.

"Impressive…So what? You were just standing here waiting for the first good lay to come along?" The hybrid asked wondering why so many pieces seemed to be just sliding right into place.

"Something like that." Narlene mumbled letting the hybrid grope and fondle her way all across her anxious body.

"Let's go." The nameless warrior said trying to push the girl into the waiting building behind.

"First, there's something I need you to do." Narlene whispered blocking the hybrid's attempt to physically force her through the large black swinging doors.

"I should have known. What is it, kitten? You have some dark deed you need done? You don't have any money so figure you'll barter your body instead? Well, what is it? You have a mean spouse you need killed? Is there something in your past that's better left forgotten?" The hybrid asked taking a very defensive stand in front of the girl.

She rounded Narlene as she spoke clearly showing her annoyance through many different layers of body language. For a second Narlene considered aborting her plan. This hybrid was obviously far more dangerous then she had originally thought.

From the way she was speaking, Narlene could tell that she was no stranger to crime. Narlene could also tell that even though she was mouthing off her suggestions in utter disgust, it was crystal clear that the hybrid was familiar with the execution of all of them. It was obvious that those little nuggets of annoyance weren't beyond the total range of possibilities. And as Narlene thought things over, she realized that her beautiful stranger was definitely someone to fear.

"That's not it!" Narlene snapped finally regaining the hybrid's complete attention.

"When we walk through those doors I want you register the room under your name. And for tonight, your name is Kellis." Narlene said meeting the hybrid's stare.

"Why?" The warrior seethed out in a rather suspicious tone.

"I simply have a fantasy that I need fulfilled. Can you do that for me?" Narlene asked hoping that the hybrid would agree.

"After you…" The warrior said ushering Narlene through the swinging doors of the Claw. The hybrid couldn't help but feel that she was making a terrible mistake. But she couldn't seem to stop herself. The prospect of sharing a warm bed with the beautiful girl was simply too divine an opportunity to pass up.

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Pedryn surveyed her tribe from high above the stage. Things were so very different here at the Gallion. At home in the Wetlands, such a ceremony would have taken place in the Aquatic Amphitheater. Thousands of people would have gathered to see the tribe honor its bravest.

But here in the Gallion Village, there numbers were much smaller. The time-honored ceremony was being held in a small modest hall. And even the very spirit of the tribe seemed diminished. It's like everyone present knew that they deserved greater then this.

They were the Midali. They were the oldest tribe in the entire Kingdom. And by all accounts, they are the strongest too. They simply deserved better then this meager celebration.

"If you'll allow me to begin." Pedryn said in a modest tone.

There was no need to raise her voice. The acoustics in the hall were designed to be absolutely perfect. Everyone in attendance could easily hear every syllable that she uttered.

Instantly, the soft whispers stopped and Pedryn could see that she had everyone undivided attention. She was standing high above the water on the small white stage. Carielle was to her left. And the other warriors were behind waiting patiently in the wings.

She knew that most of her tribe mates resented having to conduct this ceremony out of the water. After all, they were shark hybrids. And if they were at home the ceremony would of course be conducted deep under the crystal waters of the amphitheater.

But the Gallion simply wasn't set-up to accommodate all their needs. Pedryn knew that they should at least be grateful that there was a water hall even available for them. And yet she knew how much her tribe resented even the smallest concessions that they had to make for the land dwellers.

"We all know why we are here tonight. And we will begin the ceremony shortly. But first, I know that you all have some questions." Pedryn said referencing the unconscious heron lying in the far back of the room.

"As I'm sure many of you know, Elila of the Fasara is with us tonight. It is not a pleasant turn of events that has caused her to be in our custody. A cobra has hunted her. And though her health was in a dire predicament it appears now that she will make a full recovery." Pedryn announced to the murmured shock of her tribe mates. There was definitely a feeling of unrest settling throughout the hall.

"Now, as I'm sure you're all aware the Fasara are now our allies. Being as such, Elila will remain with us until it is determined that her life is no longer in danger. I ask that you all treat her with kindness and respect while she is here." Pedryn said searching the faces of her tribe mates below.

Here at the Gallion Village her word was law. She knew that not a single warrior would question her authority. As the team Alpha, Pedryn was confident that she could keep the heron well out of harm's way.

But there were a few tribe members that she was determined to keep a close eye on. They were traditionalists that were committed to a very strict and intolerable belief system. If anyone would have a problem with the heron's presence, it would be them.

Scanning the crowd below she saw a few of them huddled together in the middle of the water. They were glaring at her with clear and unobstructed hatred. They didn't think that her family deserved the throne. They believed that the tribe should never even have left the water.

To Pedryn, they were unsettling to say the least. She had adamantly protested their inclusion in the Gallion. But her Alpha had prevailed saying that they would only become more radical if they were excluded from the tribe's most sacred activities.

And so they came along spending most of their time alone sectioned far away from the rest of the tribe. Pedryn could tell that they were planning something. Past history had been a strong indicator as to the type of violence they were capable of when pushed too far. She just hoped that she could manage to keep them away from Elila. Because if the heron were ever to speak to them, there was no telling what Elila would learn.

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"How much further?" Halauris winced having a hard time keeping pace with the small snake.

"Not much further. You rest now." Tya said stopping so that the woman could catch her breath.

Instantly, Halauris collapsed onto the ground below. Her body ached in places that she was wholly unaccustomed too. But the worst for her wasn't the physical pain; it was the anguish that was threatening to consume her. Her heart was heavy and full, as she desperately wanted to openly weep for the fallen heron. Even her mind was threatening to bleed with memories of all that they had been through.

But Lineva refused to show her exhaustion. She didn't want the snake to know just how weak she really was. There was just something about Tya that wasn't right. And besides, Lineva made good practice out of not trusting outsiders.

"You are sad, yes?" Tya asked leaning on the ground next to Halauris.

It was perfectly clear to the cobra that the warrior didn't trust her. She was doing her best to keep her ocular mirage intact but Lineva wasn't making things any easier for her. Her visual masquerade was performed on two totally separate layers.

The first was aroma. Her body secreted a strong oil that could bend the mind of all those around her. The second was eye contact. It took only a mere second but once someone looked into her red pupils, she could easily force her will upon them.

And that was the problem with Lineva. The warrior kept refusing to make eye contact. It was only her hypnotic oil that was keeping the jungle cat in her control at all.

But Licara knew that she was running out of time. If she didn't get up close and personal with the jungle warrior soon, the cat would quickly snap out of it. And since she didn't want to press her luck, she decided that a quick exit would be far more gracious and advisable.

"What has happened to make you so sad?" Tya asked kneeling closer to the female cat.

It was apparent that Halauris was going to keep her silence. Licara knew how secretive the jungle cats preferred to be. But it was more then that. Lineva clearly didn't want the woman telling her story.

"You tell me, it will make you feel better." Tya said gently cupping the woman's face in her hands.

Once she got Halauris to look directly into her eyes, the cobra let her pupils swim. It only took a few circles to the left and one more to the right before she had the cat in her complete control. Satisfied, Licara sat back on her heels waiting to hear the woman's tale.

"Elila, our Alpha's daughter was killed tonight." Halauris whispered knowing that she was breaking Lineva's imposed code of silence.

"Killed? What happened?" Licara asked hoping to hear a vivid recounting of Elila painfully choking on her venom.

"HALAURIS!" Lineva snapped wanting to silence the woman's suddenly loose tongue.

"A shark attacked her. We had to leave her. It was the only way we could get away." Halauris answered in a desperate plea of tears.

Licara instantly recoiled in anger. She was certain that Elila had drunk the venom. She had made sure of it.

What she couldn't understand was how Elila ended up near a shark. When she had left the banquet hall Elila had been sitting there with the other members of the tribal council. She had been eating her food and sipping the venom like there was nothing wrong the world.

But this news infuriated the cobra. She had put too much energy and risked far too much to have someone else kill the heron. If she couldn't take her revenge on Elila, then she would go after the shark that stole her prey.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 15

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They walked into the Claw ready to face the unexpected. Narlene had been inside several times before. In the past, it had been to find out what all the gossip and illicit rumors were about. Tonight, she had gone in to reserve a room.

But now, as Narlene walked in with the nameless warrior on her arm, all eyes were clearly on them. She could tell that the whispers and murmurs had little to do with her appearance. It was the warrior that had caught their interest.

This hybrid was apparently well known in the underworld of the Gallion. She was certainly a threatening presence. But as Narlene again looked at her steely body, she couldn't help but wonder what she was getting herself into.

The entrance to the Claw was littered with a multitude of intoxicated patrons. Most of them were jaguars, dingoes and panthers. At first glance, Narlene came to believe that they were the only true jungle cats in the place. It wasn't that the observation truly bothered her. It was just that Narlene preferred to stick with her own kind.

But her strange companion seemed to pay the others no mind. She kept a possessive grip on Narlene's arm as they walked through the smoky entrance. And after they had carefully stepped over a few more passed out customers, they had finally reached the service counter.

It was a long flat wooden panel barely able to stand erect. The wood was rotted and aging. And there were various stains covering it that Narlene could only guess at the origin.

"You came back…" The voice of the employee from behind the counter startled the girl.

Narlene hated wolves. She knew on some level that they were natural enemies and that only kept her unsettled in their presence. But it was more then that. She simply didn't trust them. They were sneaky predators that preferred to capture their prey by surprise and stealth. And Narlene refused to have any respect for a predator that didn't fight honorably and in only the most forthright manner.

"We want to go up now." Narlene whispered trying to avoid the glowing red eyes of the wolf hybrid.

She could tell that this creature was old. This wolf had probably seen more then her fair share of unspeakable perversities. And on closer inspection, Narlene could tell that the wolf herself had been no stranger to the darker side of pleasure.

All over her body were the telltale bite marks and missing pieces of flesh. Both her ears and nose were covered in a smattering of silver staples and wide thick jewelry indicating not only her tribal wealth, but also her ability to take pain. All in all, the wolf presented quite a menacing image.

"All right, I need you guys to sign in." She said indicating the registration book. Narlene reached for the waiting pen but the wolf kept it just out of arm's reach.

"Now by signing this you agree to the house rules. We are not responsible for any wounds, rape, and or accidental death that may occur. If anything happens up those stairs that either of you have a problem with there's nothing that can be done about it. By singing this you agree to forego your right to seek a tribal retribution for any wrongdoing. Now, do you both understand?" The wolf asked glaring at the two jungle cats.

"Just let us sign the damn book." The hybrid sighed obviously very familiar with the Claw and all its inner workings. Narlene couldn't help but feel a bit unnerved at the revelation. She wasn't sure that it was such a good idea to have alone time with an obvious regular patron of this rather criminal establishment.

But quickly, the book was thrust at them and Narlene found herself signing it before she could change her mind. And then it was there in bold black letters, Narlene of the Fasara. And right next to it, the nameless warrior signed her own name for all the world to see.

"All right Narlene and Kellis of the Fasara, have fun but remember to be safe. Before you go can I offer you any extra tools or accessories for the evening?" The wolf said instantly pulling out a large gray box filled with only the most indescribable sexual toys. Narlene winced as she simply stared at the metal casing. She certainly didn't want to see it's insides.

"No thank you. I think we'll be going natural tonight." The warrior said to the wolf.

"Suit yourself." She answered quickly putting the box away. The warrior gave Narlene one long smirking smile before she tried to pull her up the waiting stairs. But the girl stopped her with one firm hand on her chest.

"Wait…I need to go over to the body shop for a little while. I'm going to have some work done." Narlene said gesturing to the closed doors just off to their right.

"Oh, kitten…What kind of work?" The warrior asked obviously very intrigued and excited by the idea.

"It doesn't concern you. I want you to go upstairs and shower while you wait. This could take awhile." Narlene said thinking of all the alterations she needed to have made to her form.

The warrior stared at her slightly startled by the command. She wasn't used to having women give her orders. And she certainly wasn't accustomed to taking them, especially from a woman like Narlene.

But the thought of a warm shower was simply to inviting to pass up. She couldn't remember the last time that she had had one. Living on the streets certainly hadn't done much for her personal hygiene.

"All right…" The warrior acquiesced turning to leave the girl to her errands. She was absolutely certain that Narlene got stranger every single second that she knew her.

"When you're done come back down here. I should be in the paint parlor by then. I want you to find me and make sure that you only answer to Kellis. We'll be putting on a little performance." Narlene said hoping that the warrior was bright enough to follow her simple request.

"Fine…By the way, what's in the bag?" The warrior asked wondering what else Narlene had in store for them.

"Just go." Narlene seethed storming towards the body shop. Cautiously, she clutched the tiny bag in her hand. She didn't want it to get ruined by this place. Because inside, it held her beautiful blue lingerie. And it was the only truly perfect thing that she had left of this disastrous evening.

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Yamina had gone up and down the hall at least thirty different times. She had knocked on every single door hoping to find someone to help her search. But there was no one, and this entire situation was apparently hers alone to resolve.

What frightened her most was the fact that the voice had stopped calling out. It had given up in a strangled call of exhaustion and break. Yamina was worried. Feeling pain was always pure torture. But moving beyond the pain, was normally a sign of mortal defeat.

She still didn't know who it was that needed her assistance. She could hardly recognize the strangled screams of someone's suffering. But all throughout the screams she had paid close attention.

And now, her search had narrowed. She had decided that the voice had to be coming from one of two rooms. But as she knocked on the doors she got no response.

The one room belonged to Narlene. And the other belonged to Halauris. And for some reason, Yamina had this sinking feeling in her stomach that something was terribly wrong behind Narlene's locked door. Yamina didn't know what could possibly be taking place. Or what could have gone so horribly wrong. But she knew that is was up to her to find out. So taking the role of protector and heroin, Yamina bravely braced herself to forcefully knock down the door.

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"That's enough Halauris!" Lineva screamed silencing the crying female lying helplessly on the ground.

Recounting the evening to the snake had taken everything out of her. The invisible barriers between her pain and fear had suddenly come crashing down. And now, Halauris was pitifully weeping for everything she had seen. And everything that she had lost.

"It was so awful…She was going to kill us." Halauris wailed binding herself up into a tight little ball.

It was quite obvious that she jungle cat was in need of comforting. And Licara preferred not to touch their kind. Pure mammalians were always so sickeningly warm to the touch. But under the circumstances it seemed like the easiest way to reach her goal.

Kneeling down onto the dirt, Licara easily took the weeping woman into her arms. She tried to quiet the shrieking waves of tears that were threatening to overcome Halauris' body. But she was unsuccessful. The jungle cat lost all control as she wept onto her slithering reptilian form.

Vainly, the cobra tried to demurely pat the jungle woman in a futile attempt to offer some sort of comfort. But it wasn't enough and Halauris was still desperately sobbing. And yet unfortunately, Licara realized that the weeping cat was the very least of her worries.

Glancing over the woman's shoulder, Licara was disturbed to see the warrior glaring down at their coupled form. At first, she thought that it was jealousy. But soon the snake realized that it was more then their close contact that was disturbing the jungle warrior. It was her strength.

A mere garden-snake hybrid would never have the strength to hold a sobbing jungle cat in her arms. She should have been knocked clean over onto the ground by Halauris' obvious superior mass. But yet she remained erect, easily taking the brunt of the woman's weight in her supple cobra muscles.

In a normal circumstance, she would have fallen in an attempt to keep up the masquerade. But she didn't have that luxury now. At the moment she was too focused on finding the name of the shark that now, she simply must destroy.

"Who almost killed you? Who hurt Elila?" Licara whispered directly in the woman's ear. She was using all the mind-bending techniques available in her arsenal. And thankfully, Halauris was easily responding to every single last one of them.

"I don't know. Some shark… It was so awful…" Halauris continued to weep.

The cobra bent down once more in a bold attempt to wring more detail from the woman. But she had pushed the jungle warrior too far. And it was obvious that Lineva wasn't about to let her little interrogation continue.

"All right…that's enough!" The warrior snapped pulling Halauris from her arms.

In that one gesture Lineva told her all that she needed to know. Though the woman had gone spiraling towards the warrior, Lineva had been unable to prevent their collision. Lineva was clearly exhausted. Even her muscles were unresponsive and spent. And in short glance, Licara realized that this jungle warrior posed absolutely no threat to her.

"Lineva, we left her there…we left her there to die!!!" Halauris screamed in a voice so loud the cobra was certain that the entire Gallion Village had heard.

"Stop it! You have to get a hold of yourself." Lineva snapped mentally cursing the snake for bringing forth this onslaught of tears.

Lineva knew that even though she was directing her screams at the trembling woman in her arms, she was just as angry with herself. She wanted to give into her tears. She wanted to weep uncontrollably.

But she couldn't. The warrior knew that she had to make sure that they both made it back to the Lodge. She still had a responsibility to care for their safety. And she wouldn't let her emotions consume her, not until she was certain that Halauris was out of harm's way. And not until, she had spoken to Kellis. Her duty as a warrior had to come first.

Licara watched the scene unfold before her. It was blatantly obvious to her that if the woman didn't stop crying soon, the warrior was going to become very agitated. And as she watched the muscles coil and flex all across Lineva's body, the cobra knew that decisive violence was about to ensue.

But the snake just couldn't let that happen. She still needed information from Halauris. And if Lineva slapped her back into sanity, that was going to make her task all the more difficult.

"Where did this happen? Where did the shark find you?" Licara asked thinking over all the known shark hunting grounds that surrounded the Fasara territory.

"Stop it!" Lineva screamed at her.

The cobra watched on as it became apparent that she was now that target of Lineva's anger. She supposed it was just as well. She could take a punch or slap far more easily then Halauris. And besides, if the let the warrior attack the woman Licara knew that she would get no more information where the troublesome heron was concerned.

"It was by the medical center. She just came out of nowhere." Halauris answered screaming through her tortured tears.

Licara watched, as the woman became bright red with exhaustion and uncontrollable grief. She could easily tell that Halauris was about to succumb to the rather nasty effects of her mind-bending influence. But she didn't want to stick around for that. She always found vomiting so distasteful.

"The Lodge is just up ahead on your left. You'll see it as soon as you pass through the clearing." Licara said quickly turning on her heel to leave.

Lineva watched the retreating form of the snake. She had the distinct feeling that something poignant had just taken place. The snake had simply been far too interested in Elila and the shark. And what's more, she seemed like she had strength that couldn't be contained by her small body. Lineva didn't really know or understand all that had transpired but she suspected that in time, she would look back on this moment and cringe.

"Halauris, we have to go." Lineva said looking down at the woman in her arms. She used a softer voice this time, shamed by the fact that she had nearly lost her temper.

"I'm gonna be sick." The woman whispered walking over to the peace and quiet of the nearest bush.

Lineva stood and waited for her companion to return. She wouldn't push Halauris anymore. They would slowly make their way back to the Lodge. And she would treat the woman with kindness. All she had left was her duty of honor, and Lineva wasn't going to loose that too. After all, she had already lost Elila.

Yet somewhere off in the rapid distance, Licara made her way back to the cobra nest. She had to tell the tribe of her victory. Now that the heron had been killed, her reputation would be returned.

But she knew that the information would be met with mixed feelings. Though the tribe would be pleased to know that Licara's prey had not gone unpunished, there was a rather glaring problem. Licara hadn't been the one to consume the rather bothersome Elila. Some shark over in the Midali tribe had stolen her kill and she couldn't be more displeased.

Though there would be time to correct the error. Killing the heron would certainly have done much to restore her reputation. But successfully hunting down a shark would surely have in her in prime position to finally claim the thrown as tribal Alpha.

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She awoke to the sound of water. It sounded angry and loud. It was almost like she was standing next to the very sea itself.

Or perhaps, she was even in the sea. Her body felt damp, like she had been swimming for a great distance. And somewhere behind, she knew there were waves. Every so often she would hear a giant rush of water. Then a few moments later, her body would moisten with the effects of the crashing liquid current.

She was definitely wet. Every part of her felt soaked through. Even her hair seemed tangled with heavy beads of drenching water. She didn't remember swimming. In fact, as the exhaustion began to clear her sleep saturated mind, Elila very clearly remembered that she most certainly didn't know how to swim.

Jolted into the sounds of a strange reality, she sat up finding herself in a foggy and unclear environment. There was something wrong with her eyes. At the moment, she couldn't quite see much of anything. But after several long rubs with her careful fingers, her vision finally cleared enough for her to see.

At first, she was startled and just a little frightened. Elila could only assume that she was in the Aquatic Hall. She was carefully perched on a small piece of smooth white tile. But her body was lying very dangerously close to the watery hall below. Looking down, she imagined that the drop would be at least six feet. And it was a distance she cared to never experience.

But it was more then the water that alarmed her. There were sharks as far as the eye could see. Below, they were swimming and socializing in small fast groups. Every once in a while she would see one off in the distance alone, simply floating in what must be very warm waters.

The entire hall was gently filling with the humid air of a familiar steam. And as Elila tried to mentally count up all the numbers below she imagined that the entire Midali tribe was in fact swimming beneath her. To say the least, the thought was petrifying.

Elila felt her heart speed up in chest when she realized that she had nowhere to go. She was virtually trapped on this small tile inlay. It was barely large enough to fit her body on. And now that she was wide-awake, she began to imagine the prospect of slipping right off the wet tile and right into the hot waters below.

She felt her throat close up and lungs burn with a frantic terror. She couldn't fall into the water. There were so many of them. She would never survive it.

Closing her eyes, the heron became immersed in the memory of drowning. The water hurt as it came pouring into her lungs. Then, there was the intolerable torture of her heart hammering in her small bruised chest. And she desperately looked around the room trying to even remember how it was that she came to be here.

And that's when it happened. Rising out of the water like some sort of prehistoric god, a shark latched onto the tile around her. Terrorized she looked at the long steely arms that were so easily holding her captive. Her body quaked as the splashed water saturated her form. And when she looked at its face, Elila knew that she was far too frightened to even scream.

"Hey, are you okay?" It took the words several minutes for them to even penetrate her horrified mind.

But eventually the sentence came to hold some meaning for the trembling heron. Looking at the shark so easily hanging effortlessly in the air, Elila realized that for the first time she just might not be in imminent danger. Because it was the rather friendly and quite docile Zeranna that was cautiously speaking to her.

As she looked around the hall, Elila realized that she had expected Pedryn to leap from the water and steal her back into the liquid depths below. But after careful searching she did see the Alpha shark. But Pedryn was clear on the other side of the hall standing proudly on a stage dressed in only the most beautiful ceremonial robes.

And in that moment, Pedryn looked at her. She was standing there with a long ribbon in her hands blatantly studying the heron. And for just a moment, Elila felt her heart stop.

She realized that everything wasn't what she had first assumed. Elila still didn't know what exactly she was doing in the Midali Hall, but she was beginning to think that it wasn't a lust for blood that had delivered her to them. Pedryn seemed far too calm and reserved for that.

"Elila?" Zeranna asked concerned by the girl's stunned silence.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm fine. Why am I here?" She asked obviously confused and disoriented.

Zeranna glanced into the water behind looking for the healer but Baysha seemed to have conviently disappeared. In all honesty, she didn't know why the heron had ended up in the ceremonial hall. And she really wasn't sure what Pedryn would want her to tell the girl.

"Oh my god! What's happened to me?" Elila squeaked out noticing the pale blue tint to her skin.

"Don't worry…It's okay. Pedryn said it will go away in time." Zeranna said trying to calm the girl.

"What would go away? What is this?" Elila said trying to keep her voice low. It was obvious that there was some sort of awards ceremony going on and the heron had no real desire to interrupt it.

"It's venom. We were hoping that you could tell us what happened? I don't know much. But I do know that right before the ceremony started Carielle brought you in. She tore through here trying to get you to the healer. You were suffocating on venom. You were a lot more blue then this when you first arrived…Anyways Baysha treated you." Zeranna said looking for some kind of recognition from the heron. But it was clear that Elila had no memory of the events that she was describing.

"So, Carielle eventually went to get Pedryn. And she said that you were going to be fine. And then she told the tribe that a cobra had hunted you and that's why you are here. She asked me stay with you during the ceremony." Zeranna said hoping that the heron was in fact all right. During the few brief moments that Elila had regained consciousness, the shark could tell that she had been nothing but dazed and confused.

"I don't understand. How did I end up with Carielle?" Elila asked thoroughly perplexed by all the events that the shark had just described.

"Well, I don't know. You were already unconscious when she brought you here." Zeranna asked wondering if the heron would at least remember blacking out.

"Oh gods…" Elila clasped her hand over her mouth finally remembering what had transpired in the Fasara banquet hall.

"I started getting sick. And I couldn't find a healer. I was talking to a hybrid. I started getting really dizzy and I thought that I was going to pass out. I couldn't even move. I…I don't remember anything else." Elila explained realizing that she must have fainted in the banquet hall of her very own tribe. But if her memory was accurate she couldn't understand how she had ended up with Midali.

"A hybrid? What species?" Zeranna asked wondering if Elila had been foolish enough to let a snake get within inches of her body.

"It was jungle cat from my tribe. I think she said her name was…Soudarra. I'm not really sure. I'd never met her before. Zeranna how did the snake find me? I don't even remember seeing her." Elila quickly pleaded becoming more then a little concerned for her safety.

"Well, it's okay. Don't worry. I'm sure Pedryn will know what to do." Zeranna said trying to sooth the obviously frightened heron.

Listening to the words Elila couldn't help but turn to look at the stage. Pedryn was once again staring at her, almost like she knew that she had just been discussed. And truthfully, Elila really had no idea what to do.

Looking around the Aquatic Hall, she suddenly felt like she didn't know much at all. But she did know that somewhere out in the dark world of the Gallion Village, there was a virulent snake that wanted her dead. And she stiffened at the thought that in some terribly ironic way, Pedryn might just be the only person that could save her life.

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She walked into the room not surprised to see it filled with smoke and littered with the unconscious body of patrons that had obviously overindulged. There were a few people awake at the very end of the room. One was seated behind what could only be described as a make shift desk. The other was propped up on a stained sofa hurriedly draining a shiny bottle of all it's rollen juice.

Narlene was far from impressed. But she had to do this. And truthfully, this was probably the best place to come for this particular need.

"Excuse me?" Narlene said walking towards the plywood that was obviously the make-shift service counter.

"You lost kitten?" The hybrid snarled at her.

Narlene looked the hybrid over wondering if this was really such a good idea. The hybrid was obviously of mixed lineage, most noticeably lion. But it really wasn't her mixed heritage that was bothering Narlene. It was her surly and gruff appearance. And even from a few feet away, Narlene was literally overwhelmed by the odor pouring off her body.

"No, I'm not lost. I'm here to be clawed." Narlene said moving to remove her wallet from her bag.

"Clawed??? Sweetie, this ain't no beauty parlor. We can't give you a manicure." The hybrid next to her slurred out in intoxicated mumbles.

"Yeah, you don't want to be here." The lion agreed obviously trying to dismiss her.

"Look, I know what I want. And I want you to perform this procedure. NOW!" Narlene hissed out wondering if either of the hybrids would dare to challenge her physically.

She suspected that the lion was far too old and damaged to be much of a threat to her. And well the other, though much younger she was obviously far too inebriated to be much of a threat. Besides, Narlene had every confidence in her ability to defend herself.

After all, she was of pure predator lineage. She wasn't mixed, not like these two. And as she carefully glanced at the creature lying to her side, she struggled to see any dominant trait in the girl's features at all. She looked to be a bit of everything. If anything, she was a complete and total mutt.

"Kitten, I wouldn't come in here and make demands. Not if you know what's good for you." The lion said finishing her statement with what could only be described as a feeble roar.

"Is that so? Funny, I don't seem to recall asking you what was good for me." Narlene said storming past the lion to stare at the metal shaped claws on the wall.

"I want these ones here. I want you to do it now." Narlene commanded walking back over to the lion to slam her credit slip onto the plywood.

The room grew silent for a moment as both hybrids struggled to make out the markings on the credit slip. Neither of them had ever seen an actual plutonium slip. Oh sure, they had heard of their existence but they never actually imagined that they would see one. And the lion couldn't resist touching it just to feel its essence roll through her fingers.

"You must have one rich wife." The lion commented unable to stop her sudden desire to place the cool sturdy slip against the damage skin of her face.

It felt so cold and firm in her hand. She wanted to make it hers. And she couldn't wait to tell everyone she knew that she had serviced a jungle cat so wealthy she paid in plutonium.

"I don't have all night." Narlene said thinking briefly of Keima waiting all alone in the Lodge for her return.

"Right…what length do you want?" The lion asked removing the solid gold claws from their protective casing against the wall.

"Mmm…what are my options?" Narlene asked running her fingertips over the cold shiny metal that was soon to become a part of her very body.

"Well, there's the social length. Which is about here." The lion said marking off a few scan inches of the gold metal.

Narlene couldn't help but smile as she thought of the fashion statement she could now make. A few other women in the tribe had been clawed. But none of them had anything quite as extravagant as this. Most of them had filled their body with a metal substitute. No one had gold filling the very tips of their fingers. No, she would be all alone in her wealth and beauty.

"Or there is weapon length…" The lion tossed out the comment not expecting the demure jungle cat to become so interested in the suggestion.

"Weapon length?" Narlene asked very aroused by the idea.

"Yeah, like this…" The lion commented stepping away to show her hands more clearly to the jungle cat.

First her nails were a modest length, nothing that would alarm anyone. Then they slowly extended to a longer more fashionable length. And finally, they rose from her fingers like long jagged knives gleaming in the very air around them.

"Oh, what is this?" Narlene asked cautiously touching the length of one extended claw.

"It's just a metal blend." The lion answered wishing that she could afford the gold claws that the jungle cat was so casually purchasing.

"I want weapon length." Narlene said firmly. She walked over to what she could only assume was the medical station. Glancing around at her less then cleanly environment, she hoped that she didn't catch something dreadful from being in this place.

"Are you sure?" The lion asked trying to give the girl a chance to reconsider. Not many women were interested in defending themselves through razor sharp claws. But apparently, this lone jungle cat was the exception to the rule.

"Yes…But I want to be clear on one thing. The claws will be fully retractable. Won't they?" Narlene asked knowing that sexual intimacy would be completely impossibly with razor sharp claws adorning every single one of her fingers.

"Of course…" The lion answered with a widening smirk.

She knew why the girl had asked, and for some reason it set her heart at ease. This girl wasn't so terribly different from all the others. She had someone that loved her. And this jungle cat wanted to make sure that her new gold nails wouldn't interfere with a loving embrace. And the lion had to respect her caution.

"You're really gonna do this?" The hybrid suddenly chimed in. She looked at the jungle cat through a complete aura of disbelief and amusement.

Narlene was growing weary of this creature's company. She hated to be judged. People made assumptions about her all the time. Even Keima had held one very ill-fated notion about her behavior and character.

The warrior had mistakenly thought that she would patiently wait. And now because of her arrogance, she was gagged and locked away in her private rooms. No one would know that Keima was even there. Not until she had already set her trap. And by that time, it would far too late for anyone to help the golden warrior…

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 16

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Her shoulders ached and her body was buckling under the pain of so many raw bruises. She should have realized that the doors of the Lodge would be reinforced. After all, it was the primary accommodation for a tribe full of jungle cats.

Given their natural strength and predilection to predatory behavior, of course they would have to take necessary security measures. But none of that gave Yamina any peace of mind. She wasn't having any luck breaking through Narlene's door and she could tell that someone was suffering because of it.

The moans had started again. But this time there was something about the tone that was simply breaking Narlene's heart. The person was frightened and in pain. And more then anything she wanted to help them.

"It's okay. Don't worry… I'm going to get you out of there. Just hang on." Yamina shouted from the other side of the door.

There was something about the soft moans that made her believe it couldn't be Narlene trapped behind this door. Even though the female jungle cat would have been the obvious choice, Yamina just knew that it couldn't be her. There was something so sincere, almost heart-felt about the stranger's cries. And Yamina knew with unquestioning certainty that Narlene simply wasn't capable of ever sounding so very real.

Knowing that she would never be able to physically get through the door on her own, Yamina set off at a mad pace for the lobby. She had heard someone say that the entire staff was taking the night off. It was the awards banquet, no one in the entire Fasara tribe was supposed to be here.

But Yamina had to believe that someone had stayed behind. There simply had to be someone remaining at the service counter. And she had to believe that they would have a key to Narlene's room.

Her story was going to sound strange. And as she ran down the steps to the lobby she began wondering if a white lie might not be a better idea. Because who in the world was going to believe that someone was screaming in pain behind a locked door. Things like that just didn't happen here. After all, they were supposed to be an honorable tribe.

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They had been walking for the better part of an hour. Lineva had been convinced that she had followed the snake's direction to a perfect tee. But when they had passed through the clearing, the Lodge hadn't been anywhere in sight.

And the warrior was beginning to think that they had been set up. That snake had seemed off from the very beginning. And now that it looked like they were indeed quite lost all over again, she was convinced that there was more to Tya then either of them had ever seen.

"How are you holding up?" The warrior gently asked the girl at her side.

Thankfully, Halauris had stopped crying some time ago. They walked on in silence with the occasional sniffle breaking the air between them. But the sobbing had stopped. And for that one small thing, Lineva was grateful.

At first, the woman didn't answer and the warrior began to wonder if Halauris was holding some sort of grudge over her earlier outburst. But as she looked at the woman she realized that that wasn't it all. From the quivering upper lip to the silent shaking shoulders, Lineva could tell that the woman was doing everything she could to keep her silence.

Halauris was trying to be brave and to keep moving forward. She was trying to make things easier for the warrior. And again, Lineva felt her own shame brewing like a tempest over everything she had already failed to protect.

Yet, there was something else too. The woman was clutching her arms to the sides of her body. And it looked not only awkward but strangely painful as well.

"Halauris, what's going on?" The warrior asked finally stopping her stride. She stood in front of the woman who couldn't seem to tolerate the gaze of her eyes. Tenderly, Lineva put her hands on the woman's arms hoping to find out if she had somehow been injured.

"I'm…I'm scared." The woman whispered feeling that the forest suddenly had eyes. Everywhere she looked seemed to lurk a pressing danger.

And as the woman stood there, all she could think about was Elila and what the girl must have gone through during the last moments of her life. For some reason, she found herself wondering if the heron had awakened during those fateful moments. Pain could certainly be a powerful stimulant to the mind. She hoped that the venom had been strong enough to keep Elila silent. Because she knew all too well that sharks liked to tear their victims limb from limb.

"I know. But we can do this. I'm going to get us home." Lineva said taking the woman in her arms.

On any other day, this gesture would have been considered highly intrusive. Even though she was warrior, Lineva knew that socially Halauris' station was much removed from her own. She should never be touching this woman, not this intimately.

But she couldn't stop herself. They both needed the comfort. And for the briefest of seconds, she felt the shattered girl melt into the strength of her arms.

"No…" Halauris whispered hurriedly backing away from the warrior's arms.

Lineva looked around a bit ashamed at her presumption. She should never have touched Halauris, regardless of the circumstance. And now, the proud warrior felt humiliated. But as she turned to offer the woman an apology for her physical presumption she could tell that it wasn't the proximity of her body that had upset the girl.

"What is it?" Lineva asked struggling to make sense of the abject horror crossing the girl's features.

"Look!" Halauris squealed out pointing to the clearing far away to the left.

"It can't be." Lineva cried out falling into the soft ground at her feet.

"It is. We're all the way in the outskirts. It'll take hours to get back to the banquet hall. And by then, the transport will have stopped running. We'll never get back to the Lodge." Halauris cried out wanting nothing more then to find a safe hole to curl up in.

They both laid there mentally mapping out the distance to their nearest Fasara holding. Lineva knew that they were in terrible trouble. But she would be damned before she told Halauris how worried she really was.

The snake had obviously planned this. She had led them on a wide arcing circle all around the various outskirts of the Gallion Village. And unless her sense of direction was totally in error, that meant that Tya had led them right past the very Lodge itself.

She couldn't begin to imagine what the snake had to gain from actions like this. She wanted to believe that the small snake was only frightened of them. Perhaps, Tya had wanted to lead them a safe distance away from the nest of her tribe.

But for some reason, Lineva sensed that her reason had been far darker. Tya had asked far too many questions about Elila. And as the warrior finally remembered the steel blue skin of the heron's body and the venom that had rendered her untimely death, Lineva finally made the connection that had been there all along.

Tya was certainly not who she appeared to be. She obviously worked for the cobras. And now, Lineva realized that the very safety of her tribe was in jeopardy. Because with Elila out of the way, that made Kellis the next likely target…

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She walked into the nest feeling just a bit taller and bit more sure. This had been a difficult year for her. And running into Elila had made things no easier.

In front of the entire tribe the heron had managed to humiliate her. They had all seen her hunt the girl. They had even seen her force the prey outside. But when she had returned injured and frustrated, they all knew the truth. She had failed to kill the tiny heron.

She had been humiliated. And Licara didn't like to be mocked. It reminded her of the past, which by all accounts was a time much better left forgotten.

But now she had proven her prowess as a hunter. Even if it wasn't her venom that had taken away Elila's final breath, the rest of the tribe didn't need to know that. She would still be credited with the untimely death of the prized heron.

And as she walked into the nightclub, she couldn't wait to see their faces. She had done what they said just couldn't be accomplished. Her alpha had assured her that she would never be able to get to Elila. The heron lived with the jungle cats and the Fasara were more then capable of protecting their own.

But she had proved that anything could be accomplished, that is if one possessed mind-bending abilities. She has snuck into their very private gathering. She had sat down with them for a meal. She had even been near Elila herself. And no one had been the wiser. No, she had gone by completely unnoticed. And for that large feat she was terribly proud.

She walked into the darkened nightclub unsure as to what she would find. It was pretty late in the evening. She didn't know who would be around at this time of night. But she saw the imperial guard standing by the door and decided to go with the moment.

"Is the Alpha in?" She asked hoping to be able to reclaim her reputation in the span of one night. But the guard only looked at her skeptically, as if to deny entrance.

"Hold on, I'll check to see if the Alpha will see you." The guard answered trying to shove Licara away from the door.

The cobra remained outside the door anxiously awaiting permission to enter. The alpha could be anything but fair at times. But under such a circumstance her hunting prowess couldn't be denied any longer. She had outwitted the mighty jungle cats and killed their Alpha's daughter. And once her tribe heard of the news, Licara knew that her position as a part of the tribal council would finaly be secured.

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She listened as the ceremony continued. It was a rather reserved fair compared to what her own tribe had done only hours ago. There wasn't a lot of commotion or cheers from the crowd. Most of the noise came every time one of the sharks leapt into the water from her place on the stage.

Elila tried to calm herself. Recent circumstances were upsetting enough. She desperately wanted to know what had happened to her. She wanted to know how she had come to be with the Midali. But the only person who could tell her that was Carielle. And at the moment, she was rather occupied.

But it wasn't just the thought of Licara roaming the Gallion Village in search of her weakened form that was causing her fear. As much as she tried to be brave, it was her environment. For the most part, the sharks were cutting her a rather wide berth and for that the small heron was infinitely grateful.

Yet, everyone once in a while she would catch one of them staring at her. She knew they were probably just curious but it was unsettling nonetheless. And after they had had their ocular fill of her bluish form, they would surge their powerful bodies back under the water like a streamline ghost.

Elila couldn't help but feel intimidated by the raw power circling her in every direction. The Midali were nothing if not the complete personification of crushing force. And when they moved through the water their limbs swam like liquid steel.

The small heron was considerably thankful that Zeranna had stayed close to her side. But it was more then just the comforting presence of her friend that Elila craved. It was the violent fear of the water that was causing her need for company.

Every time one of the sharks jumped into the waiting pool, the waters raised washing over her small solid inlay. Several times she had panicked trying desperately to clutch at the slippery tile underhand. She was certain that at any moment she would fall into the waters below. And the thought of drowning was sending her into a spiral of terror.

But as she watched the ceremony continue she couldn't help but think that Zeranna should take her place on the stage. She didn't want to be the cause of the warrior missing out on a hallowed opportunity. And yet despite her best intentions, Elila couldn't seem to get the words out of her mouth. If Zeranna left, the heron was certain that she would drown.

"Are you okay?" Zeranna asked trying her best to casually emerge from the water.

She knew that it upset Elila every time the water came splashing down over her form. But there was little that she could do to help that. Even though her form was tall, she still had to jump from the water just to reach the heron above.

"Yeah…shouldn't you up there?" Elila asked half-heartedly.

The shark seemed to stare at her for long lengthy moments filled with silence. At least that's how it seemed to Elila. She didn't want Zeranna to leave her. But she felt terribly selfish asking her to stay.

"Oh, I suppose. But Pedryn asked to me to stay with you. And besides, I'm not really much of a fighter. I'm just a warrior because of my height. It's not really who I am." Zeranna answered wondering if the heron might be able to understand her situation.

The heron seemed to digest the information as if to consider the response from all angles. At first, she thought that Zeranna might just be telling her what she desperately wanted to hear. A shark that didn't want to be a warrior sounded nothing short of absurd.

But then she smiled thinking of how gentle the shark really was. In fact, the more she thought of it the harder time Elila had imagining Zeranna surrendering to the bloodlust. And besides all of that, she was quite pleased to know that Zeranna didn't mind being forced to stay by her side.

"Something on your mind?" Zeranna asked noticing the pensive stare that crossed the heron's features.

"I just want to know how I ended up here." Elila answered wondering if her tribe even knew where she was.

"Well, I'm sure that Carielle can answer that. We'll just have to ask her as soon as the ceremony is over." Zeranna answered giving the heron one last smile before she seamlessly returned to the water below.

Searching the far away stage Elila couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were going through Pedryn's mind. When she had arrived at the Fluid the meeting had been nothing more then a strange twist of cruel irony.

But here she was, right back with the Midali tribe. A group of people that at one time were her sworn enemy. And now, she was recovering yet again from an ill-fated meeting with a cobra.

This time though, things seemed different. They had let her go before, convinced that the jungle cats would be able to ensure her safety. But for some reason Elila wasn't so certain that Pedryn would be willing to make the same mistake over again. In fact as she caught the rather possessive gaze radiating from the Alpha shark, Elila began to realize that Pedryn might not want to ever let her go…

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She watched her all throughout the ceremony. It was shameless, the way she couldn't even take her eyes from the girl's supple form. Even under the tint of pale blue venom, Elila was still a sight to behold.

And Pedryn found herself blinded by the electric beginnings of the bloodlust. She couldn't succumb to the hunt. Such a thing like that wasn't acceptable here, not at a ceremony. Even the sharks had a certain sense of propriety that dictated an appropriate time and place for all things savage.

But for Pedryn, the Midali Hall had to be the very last place in the entire Kingdom that she wanted to be. Because on the far side of the room,huddled on a slippery inlay, a small heron was shivering through her terror. She supposed that she couldn't really blame Elila for her more then natural reaction.

Yet, on some level it unnerved her. Elila had spent the better part of the previous evening in her care and company. She had treated the girl with not only the utmost respect but with also an uncharacteristic amount of courtesy. And after all her careful manners and tenderness, it would seem that the girl was still terribly frightened right down to her very core.

Although, Pedryn realized that there could be other reasons for Elila's rather exaggerated state of distress. Perhaps, the small girl wasn't even thinking of her at all. There was a lethal snake hungrily stalking this very Village in search of the girl as prey. Pedryn supposed that fact alone was enough to cause anyone distress.

And then there was the water. She knew how much the heron hated it. The very sight of the slippery substance was probably enough to send the girl into a paralyzing fear. And here in the Hall, she was surrounded by it on all sides.

As she watched the girl clutch the little inlay, Pedryn began to think that it was nothing more then a fear of falling that was wreaking havoc on the girl's body. She wondered if Elila actually believed that they would let her drown. After all, despite the brutality of their initial meeting Pedryn hadn't let the girl surrender to the water's depths.

But it was that encounter that was upsetting the normally icy Alpha shark. She loathed the cruel twist of irony that forced her to stand on this stage giving out awards of honor and valor. She had no business being a part of it. She had no honor or courage. She had lost everything that had once meant so much. She had lost it all, because of that one night in the water.

And as she watched her cousin stiffen next to her form, Pedryn couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were passing through Carielle's mind. At times, her cousin liked to pretend that it didn't happen. She would shut herself away in the beautiful land of denial where nothing bad had ever taken place.

Then Elila came. And the heron opened up a wound that she knew Carielle liked to pretend never even existed. Pedryn was beginning to wonder if she would even have the strength to finish the ceremony.

There was nothing she would rather do then leave the very stage. Truthfully, she wanted nothing more then to leave her tribe. She had suffered too much to carry on. And when she thought of the vast Kingdom that lay beyond the salty waters of the Wetlands, Pedryn found herself salivating at the thought to leave.

She wanted an escape from her self-inflicted torture. She wanted an escape from the pain. But more then that, she wanted to escape all her harrowing responsibilities as the tribal Alpha's daughter.

And for some reason, the thought made a sly irony cross her stoic features. She wondered if Elila might understand her circumstance. The heron's alpha certainly wasn't known for being fair or just. And Pedryn knew that the suffering girl had been left to the sole whims of Thash on more then one pivotal occasion.

Mindlessly, she took the next award that Carielle dutifully placed in her hand. And when their limbs touch, she felt her cousin's hand tremble. It was Elila. Having the heron here was like a bright red flag to the testament of their sins.

They were supposed to be celebrating their honor. But under the heron's watchful eye, Pedryn couldn't help but think that they were all enacting some sort of elaborate charade. And tonight with a golden medal cooling in the palm of her hand, the charade felt particularly shallow and meaningless.

The only reason why she didn't excuse herself from the festivities was the tribe itself. She had a duty to perform the ceremony. Pedryn knew that there were many warriors in her tribe who were honor bound and worthy people. They deserved to be recognized.

But Pedryn knew that she didn't belong standing by their sides. Sometimes she felt that she didn't even deserve to hunt the same waters as the others. After her cruelties, there could be no peace. Her future was one of suffering. After all, there was no way she could ever atone for all that she had done. She could never repay those that she had hurt. And there was no way that Elila could ever forgive her.

And as she watched the heron scanning the waters below with her reticent gaze, she suddenly wished that she could read her mind. She wondered what thoughts had the heron so obviously vexed. She wondered if the heron saw her pitiful role in what should be a sacred event as something comical, or perhaps even revolting. She wondered if the girl was even thinking about her at all.

In some small way, she was aware of the ceremony drawing to a close. Pedryn could feel the shift in the water's current as everyone moved closer to the stage. And she could hear the excited murmurs of the warriors gathered all around.

The events of the Gallion were officially drawing to a close. The Midali had fought well and earned their rightful place as apex predators in the Animal Kingdom. But even though there were excited cheers and tear of joy, Pedryn only felt empty.

This was an event that should bring her much pleasure and pride, but instead she only felt the memory of her sins washing through body. Her breath tightened in her chest and she found herself craving the comfort that only water could give. She wanted to swim away from her tribe, from her crimes, and more specifically from Elila.

But she couldn't do that. She had a banquet to head. She had a phony smile to wear. And she had a thick gauze of fake pride to wrap herself in.

There was no time for a moonlit swim in the Gallion Ocean. Pedryn knew that she still had a painfully long night ahead of her. And it was a night that would be filled with the heron's company.

She watched Elila search the surrounding hall for what she could only assume was an exit. Someone would have to retrieve the girl. The only way out was through the water. And Pedryn knew quite well that Elila couldn't swim.

As she easily dived into the waiting waters below, she slowly swam towards the perched heron. Emerging from the water with a minimal splash and a stealthy grace, she stared into Elila's eyes. She didn't know what she expected the heron to say or do. But there was something in the silence between them. And to Pedryn's cold heart, it almost felt like warmth…

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"So, how long is this going to take to heal?" Narlene asked as she tentatively sat down behind the rather dismal medical station.

The leather chair was torn in several different places with long exaggerated stripes. She could only assume that someone had decided to test out their brand new metal claws on the upholstery. To her right, was a small wooden stool.

And directly in front of her was a long white tray. It was filled with assorted instruments of every medical variety. Most of them were sharp and terribly threatening to the sight. And hanging from above was a long moveable light fixture.

Trying to calm herself she took a long deep breath. She couldn't change her mind, not now. She really didn't have many other options. And besides, the long-term benefits to this procedure could be innumerable.

"Well, everyone is a little different. But it really depends on her your DNA. Are you pure bred?" The lion asked moving her large lumbering body to sit onto the tiny stool.

"Of course!" Narlene scoffed upset to have her heritage questioned. Her earliest ancestors were of pure jungle cat blood. And she absolutely detested the fact that anyone would even question that.

"Then you should heal in an hour or so. Of course, it will take several days for you to have full use of your claws. It will be at least 72 hours until you can extend them to their full length." The lion answered staring into the bright blue eyes of the young jungle kitten.

"You sure you want to do this? This is your very last chance to back out." The lion said reaching for a wide metal basin that clanked with the long golden claws that Narlene had purchased to be her own.

"Positive. Let's go. I don't have all night." Narlene answered trying not to show her fear when the lion filled a long glass needle with a bubbling fluid.

"What's that?" She asked recoiling into the black leather depths of the chair behind.

"Don't worry, this stuff will make you feel good. You're going to need it for the procedure." The lion said squirting some of the fluid in the air to make sure that her equipment was all ready to go.

"No, that's cut rollen isn't it?" Narlene asked recognizing the boiling substance in the tiny glass vile.

In a distilled form, rollen juice was known for its intoxicating qualities. But when it was cut with jolari root, the mixture could be fatal. Sometimes all it took was one intravenous dose for a virgin user to explode their very beating heart. Narlene would risk a lot to make Kellis her own. But she refused to risk her very life.

"Of course it is. Now, hold still." The lion said trying to reach for the girl's wavering hand.

"No, use anesthesia!" Narlene snarled staring at the looming needle like some sort of steely weapon.

"Kitten what does this look like to you? We don't have anesthesia. We use what we can get on the streets." The lion said to the chuckling amusement of her nearly drunk friend.

"Now this stuff here is pure. This isn't that crap that you can buy over in the bogs. This will make you feel good." The lion answered looking over at her friend for some sort of support. But her friend was too dazed to even respond. She had spent the better part of the evening sampling distilled rollen juice and now her mind was anything but aware.

"But it's lethal." Narlene snarled wondering if this was to be the last straw. Surely, she couldn't go through with this procedure, not under these circumstances.

"Only when it's cut with cobra venom. Some freaks like the high of suffocation as the venom strangles the very air from their body. But this stuff, no way." The lion said waving the long needle around in the air like some sort of vulgar implement.

"This kitten is pure rollen berry and jolari root. This will have you soaring for days on end." The lion said trying to reassure the girl.

She didn't know why she was so concerned with Narlene's perception of the substance. She supposed that part of it was that she didn't want the girl to fear her. No matter her appearance, or the atmosphere of her environment, she took pride in her work. And she would never comprise anyone life with unsafe narcotics. And for some reason, the lion found herself needing the cat to understand that one simple thing.

"Alright, let's make this quick." Narlene said, allowing the lion to take her long lean wrist.

The lion couldn't help but smile at the circumstance. This young kitten had been nothing but demanding since she had walked through the door. And truthfully, the hybrid was looking forward to shooting the girl full of narcotics. After all, it might actually make the young cat far pleasant to be around.

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The nameless warrior let the luke warm water cascade across the naked flesh of her body. It had been far too long since she had indulged in the luxury of a shower. And as the water trickled all across her body, she tried not to notice the blood that it carried towards the drain.

She knew that she had been hurt in her last battle. The sword had sliced right into the thick muscle of her shoulder. She of course had tried to treat the wound as dutifully as possible. But there wasn't much that she could do, not without antiseptic or bandages.

As she finally stepped out of the small-dirtied shower and into the even filthier bathroom, she couldn't begin to understand the strange twist of events that this night had taken. She had planned on finding another blood sport to join. She hadn't eaten in a least three days. And she knew that the sport was the only way to get some quick money. Besides, she sorely needed the nutrients of a good meal. She had lost a lot of blood and was missing her usual strength and energy.

But instead of a night filled with the usual blood and gore, she was spending it with a young socialite. Narlene was full of surprises and part of her couldn't wait to see what the girl had in mind. It had been a long time since she had bedded anyone like the beautiful jungle kitten. She only hoped that Narlene wasn't a waste of her time, or talents.

Before taking to blood sports, she had earned her living as most miscreants do, on her back. And without meaning to sound prideful, she was very good at her job. Narlene was in for quite a night.

And yet at the moment, she knew that her normally voracious sexual appetite was taking a backseat to her more basic hunger. She needed food. She was starving for the taste of nearly anything. And as the hour dragged on, she realized that she was far too tired to hunt.

But as she thought of the rather impetuous kitten awaiting her arrival, she wondered if Narlene might be able to help her out in that department as well. The cat obviously had money. She had rented the room and then subseuqently disapeared to have what stood to be rather intriguing body work performed. Deciding that it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask, she wondered down the stairs hoping to find a means to satiate both of her rather ravenous hungers.

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She had searched the Lodge from top to bottom but had been unable to locate a single other person. At one point, she thought that she had heard a noise coming from behind Melaryn and Neisha's door. But after several moments of pounding, no one bothered to answer her pleas for help.

Yamina bitterly realized that she in fact was all alone. And that left her with only one other option. She had to get on the next transport. She had to go all the way back out to the banquet hall and retrieve the help that she was so desperately needed.

She didn't look forward to traveling out after dark all alone. Truthfully, she didn't even like to go out under the bright light of day. But she didn't see what other choice she really had. She couldn't let that person suffer, even if she didn't know who they really were.

Quietly, she sat down in the vacant lobby glancing at the large clock overhead. The next transport would arrive in twenty minutes. And she would have to be on it.

But for some reason, Yamina couldn't seem to make her legs move. It wasn't just the fear of solitary night travel. It was the very idea of going to the banquet. She had shirked off her tribal duties and missed a very important function.

She knew that if she were to show up now, everyone in sight would have questions. Of course, most people wouldn't bother to say anything to her face. They would whisper, murmur, and laugh behind her back as per their usual routine.

At least Elila would be there. Yamina had no intention of procuring help for her mystery person all on her own. She would quietly whisper her story into the heron's ear. And then the more confident Elila would take it from there.

Perhaps, she would enlist the aid of Kellis, Melaryn or any other warrior. But Yamina didn't care who helped her. She just knew that someone upstairs locked behind the thick door of Narlene's room was in critical need of assistance. And she for once, was going to do something brave.

Making up her mind, Yamina walked towards the large glass doors of the lobby. But she didn't make it more then a few steps when she saw that her tribe had finally begun to return. It did only make sense after all, the hour was growing rather late.

There, meandering up the path were two of Narlene's closest friends, Rilari and Shaenebel. Yamina winced as she watched them approach. They were certainly not who she would have chosen in the way of help or assistance. But they would have to do. Perhaps if all three of them worked together they could find someway to break through Narlene's door. She hoped that they would help. Because Yamina had the oddest feeling that her suffering stranger was running out of time.

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"In case I never get a chance to tell you this I want to do it now. I just want to say thank you." Halauris said to the frigid warrior by her side.

Lineva tried not to be too caught off guard by the sentiment. Those were certainly not the words that she had expected to hear. But they were welcomed, even if a bit misguided.

"You don't have anything to thank me for." Lineva quietly answered not once breaking step.

They had a long walk ahead of them. The banquet hall was still hours away by foot. And they simply couldn't afford to stop and rest. It was far too dangerous and the hour was growing to terminally late. Lineva wanted to make it back to the tribe by sun up. Kellis deserved that much at least.

"Yes, I do. When Elila first started getting sick at the banquet, no one would help me. I screamed and screamed and everyone just ignored me. You were the only person who came over." Halauris answered recalling the cool and indifferent way her friends had reacted to her plea for help.

Lineva knew that it wasn't really Halauris that anyone was ignoring. It was Elila. And the girl had such a good heart she just couldn't see that.

"No, you were the brave one. You tried your best to get her help." Lineva answered recalling all too clearly their ill-fated trip over to the vacant Gallion Medical Center. That was where they had met the shark. And that was where they had lost Elila.

"It didn't do a lot of good did it?" Halauris whispered promising herself that she wouldn't cry. She had to be strong. They had a very long journey ahead of them and it wasn't fair to Lineva if she slowed them down with the weighted burden of her tears.

Neither of them said anything as they walked on towards the safety of their tribe. Lineva was too frightened to open her mouth. She knew that Halauris was barely holding it together. And she didn't want to risk saying one more thing that could upset the girl.

"How did Elila get exposed to the venom? Isn't the reaction almost instantaneous?" Halauris said asking the one question that had been on her mind for quite some time.

Lineva was silent as she thought over the information. She had been so focused on returning to the jungle cats she really hadn't given Elila's actual attack much thought. But Halauris was absolutely right. The effect of venom on a heron was nearly instant. That would mean that Elila had been attacked at the banquet.

And as Lineva remembered the events of the evening, she just didn't see how that could even be possible. There were only jungle cats in the hall. And as far as she could remember, Elila had never once stepped outside. The heron had never even been alone. Other Fasara had almost always surrounded her.

"Did you ever see Elila even go outside?" Lineva asked the woman.

Truthfully, the warrior couldn't believe that any snake would have the nerve to set one slithering foot into Fasara territory. They would never be able to survive an encounter with a real predator. But Lineva knew there could be no other explanation. Somehow, one bold cobra had managed to walk right past every single warrior in the tribe.

"No, but I confess I wasn't really paying that much attention to her." Halauris answered wishing for once that she had stayed close the Alpha's daughter.

If Yamina had only been there then none of this ever would have happened. The natural assumption was that the snake had simply overpowered Elila. And Yamina was a pure blood. She didn't have the same frail bird bones that Elila suffered with. No, she could have defended Elila from the snake. If only Yamina had gone to the banquet, Elila would still be alive.

"None of this makes any sense. If Elila had been attacked she would have come inside screaming. There would have been blood. There would have been a gaping wound. But I didn't see any of that." Lineva commented realizing that she had carried the heron in her own two arms.

Looking down at her body the warrior realized that there wasn't a single drop of blood. Lineva didn't know how Elila had managed to get exposed to the venom, but it certainly wasn't through a bite.

"You're right. Now that I think about it, I didn't even smell blood. I was just so preoccupied with her turning blue I didn't even think about it." Halauris commented realizing that the entire situation seemed to grow stranger by the moment.

Both the warrior and the woman traveled on in silence. Both of them let their minds fill with questions that it seemed didn't have any plausible answers. But Lineva knew that they had to keep moving.

There seemed to be something far more calculating at work then a simple hunting cobra. And unless all of her instincts were wrong, they had to get to Kellis. The warrior had the strangest feeling that something dreadful was about to happen.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 17

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"Go on, she'll see you now." The large guard huffed at the waiting cobra.

It was quite obvious that the guard had beenhoping that Licara would be denied entrance. And truthfully, that wouldn't have surprised her. This last little fiasco with Elila had been the mere topping on a long list of embarrassments. At the moment, she was far from being the Alpha's favorite warrior.

But the large black door swung open revealing the Alpha's personal quarters. Licara stepped in allowing her eyes to adjust to the complete darkness. It was a inherent tribal trait but most cobras preferred living space without windows of any kind. And the Alpha was no different. There in the very center of the room, sat Anzari the cobra tribal Alpha..

For someone of such distinct royalty, Anzari's quarters were little in the way of impressive. There was only a few spartan pieces of furniture in the room that was in-effect the main living space for the tribal Alpha. Besides the long couch Licara could only see a small wet bar, a long dark dining table, and a few scattered chairs.

Of course if asked, Anzari would say that her frugal quarters were of her own choosing. But Licara knew the truth. The Alpha was destitute. Aside from her rather expensive jolari root addiction, Anzari did have many wives to feed.

And as per her usual routine, was she surrounded by all twenty of her wives. Anzari was comfortably lying on long red sofa. And her wives were forced to lie on the ground, apparently content to gaze up at the ruling hybrid.

The sight always seemed to make Licara ill, physically ill. She understood that many women found the Alpha to be attractive, but Licara just couldn't seem to understand their point of view. In her opinion, the Alpha was nothing if not awkward looking.

Even though it was typical for most Ahloria hybrids to wear their hair short, Anzari seemed to take short to a new hideous level. Licara liked to leave her hair at a modest length just above her shoulders. It was attractive and perfectly functional. Most warrior preferred short hair any ways, it was better for fighting.

But for the cobras a shorter length of hair had far less to do with fighting and much more to do with hypnosis. All pure blooded cobras had hair color that ranged anywhere from soft coral to bright flaming red. Licara always suspected that it was some sort of biological warning to all other would be prey. After all, the red color of their hair and eyes made them stand out like bright raging flames.

And Anzari's looks were certainly classic cobra. Her eyes were the color of molten lava. Her lips were thick and pink. And her nose was a bit dented out of place. Licara was never really sure how it had happened but she knew that the injury was incurred during one of Anzari's last battles. Anzari hadn't once defended her throne since she became Alpha. She always seemed to find a reason to delegate that responsibility to someone else.

Of course, Licara had her beliefs on that matter. She suspected that Anzari stayed out of the challenge ring for no other reason then her own personal gain. Licara knew Anzari never deserved the throne in the first place. And if she had her way, she would make the royal seat her own.

"Ladies, look who's come to visit us. It's Licara. What are you here for this time? Another teeny tiny heron slip out of your grasp?" Anzari said, clearly mocking the entering warrior.

"Oh, what's the matter Licara? Not in a laughing mood?" Anzari said, forcing her long face into a pout.

Her wives seemed to find her words amusing and were more then content to laugh hysterically at Licara's expense. But the snake just stood there taking it all in stride. Licara knew that she had to let them have their fun now. After all, once she told them that Elila was dead, no one would ever laugh at her again.

"You missed a lovely evening here, Licara. It's a shame that you couldn't stay. We did have fun… Didn't we ladies?" Anzari asked her wives as she carelessly stepped over their prone bodies.

They all laughed and giggled at her comments apparently quite pleased with whatever had taken place. And again, Licara found herself forced to hold her tongue. She couldn't begin to imagine what so many women would see in a hybrid like Anzari.

Aside from the physical, the tribal Alpha had very little in the way of personality. She liked to mock and tease people. Basically, she thoroughly enjoyed toying with all those around her.

And when she was done filling her daily hours with juvenile pranks and inane comments. She would finish out her day with a bit of tawdry sex. All in all, Anzari led a simple life. And it was one that Licara intended to have for her own.

"Fiami killed six people tonight. It was an assortment of bog trash and wayward mammals, but it was fun just the same. I swear, one of these days that warrior is a cut a bloody swathe through this village like no one has ever seen before. Now Fiami, she's a hunter. You on the other hand can't even handle a little bitty heron." Anzari scolded recounting the evil deeds of one of her favorite pet warriors.

"I heard that she wasn't done yet. I think she's headed back out for more fun." One of Anzari's wives called out from behind.

It was bad enough that Licara had to look at them, she didn't want to have to listen to them speak. But as she looked them over she realized that it had to be the power. The only reason to unite with Anzari was because she was the tribal Alpha. There was no other reason that anyone would put up with her.

But Licara hoped that her wives didn't mind being pushed down a peg. When she stole the throne from Anzari she had no intention of keeping them around. They could beg on the streets of the very Gallion Village for all she cared. And she would take the throne, of that Licara had simply no doubt.

"So, why are you here Licara? You didn't come back to entertain us with more tales of your pathetic foibles did you?" Anzari laughed pouring herself a stiff drink of rollen juice.

"No, I don't think that my news is funny at all." Licara finally said desperately trying to look into her Alpha's eyes.

It bothered her that Anzari was so tall. She wanted to be able to look her right in the eyes when she told her about Elila. It would just make the news so much sweeter.

Even though the Alpha's height bothered Licara somewhat, she knew that it wasn't true cause for alarm. A normal warrior could use their height to whatever advantage that it afforded. But not Anzari… Her body was rail thin nearly devoid of all muscle mass. Licara was certain that given the chance, she could snap her in half like a thin twig.

"I came to tell you that it's finished. Elila is dead." Licara said waiting for any reaction from her Alpha.

But for a long time there was known. Anzari only looked at her like she was some sort of half bred freak. But then the moment arrived, but it wasn't the recognition that she had been hoping for. Instead of congratulation all the Alpha did was laugh… she laughed and laughed until Licara thought that surely the laughter would stretch on for all eternity.

"You expect me to believe that? You couldn't even kill her here in your very own nest. You want me to believe that you killed her in jungle cat territory. No way, Licara! Nice try." Anzari said giggling again at the futile attempt Licara had made to reclaim her reputation.

"It's the truth. Elila is dead! And the best part of it is that I did it right before their very eyes." Licara said trying to stand up for her claim.

She didn't want her kill questioned. She wanted their approval. But more importantly, she wanted back her very honor.

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"I trust that you're feeling better?" Pedryn asked softly gazing into the heron's warm open eyes.

At first, Elila didn't answer. She was a bit caught off guard by the shark's sudden arrival at her side. Pedryn's features were so soft in the muted light of the hall. The image simply caught the heron a bit unexpectedly. She was used to thinking of Pedryn as harsh and intimidating.

"A little yes… I am a bit less blue. I suppose that is a good sign." Elila muttered wondering if the shark had truly come over for mere conversation.

After all, a lot had happened. The entire tribe knew that she was here. She couldn't just disappear like before. Now there would be questions and a lot of people would demand answers. And unfortunately, Elila knew that her alpha was one of them.

"There's much we have to discuss." Pedryn said a bit softly.

She was clutching the sides of Elila's tiny inlay hoping that her presence wasn't frightening the girl. That truly wasn't her intention. But all the same, she could hear the tiny heart speed up in her chest. And the girl's eyes were opened wide in clear fear and apprehension.

"I know." Elila answered dutifully.

She knew that this situation was rapt for political upheaval. Even though the Midali were not at fault for her medical condition she knew that her alpha might not see it that way. At times, Elila suspected that Thash would love to use any excuse to start up a brand new war.

And after so many lives had been lost, she just couldn't stomach more bloodshed. Things had to handled with complete civility and openness. No one in the Midali tribe could question her sudden appearance or the motive behind it. But most important, no one from her tribe could blame the sharks for her condition.

"There is still an award's banquet that must be attended to. Do you feel well enough? If not, I can have someone take you back to the Fluid." Pedryn said giving Elila the only two options available to her.

And it didn't pass the heron's notice that going back to her tribe was not a viable option, at least not yet anyway. Elila knew that Pedryn was right. There was much that had to be discussed. There was a rogue cobra somewhere in the Gallion Village that had to be attended. And somewhere along the way, Kellis would have to made aware of all the events that had transpired.

For as long as they were in the Gallion Village, Kellis was the acting tribal Alpha. And for some reason, Elila didn't relish a meeting between the golden warrior and Pedryn. It's not that Kellis would have any overt reason to dislike Pedryn, besides their natural inclination to war. Kellis had no idea what had taken place in the water. She had no idea what Pedryn had done.

But still, the heron felt that such a meeting was wrought for disaster. It was like she instantly knew that the two warriors would end up in a heated physical battle. And Elila didn't want to see the results of the two hybrids going at it. Kellis was an exceptional warrior. Yet, Elila knew that there was no way she would survive a physical confrontation with the much larger and stronger shark.

"I can go to the banquet…" Elila whispered thinking that was the best course of action.

Even though she was almost certain that if she chose to leave, Pedryn would send her off with Zeranna. There was just something curious that made her stay. She had never been to another tribal banquet. The swamp didn't partake in such traditional ceremonies. And the thought of seeing an actual Midali banquet certainly piqued her curiousity.

And yet, if the heron were really honest with herself she would realize that her desire to go was far more motivated by the actual sharks themselves. She wanted to see Pedryn and Carielle in their natural habitat. She wanted to see them interact with other members of their tribe in a state of peace. But more basically, she wanted to see them as people instead of the monsters in her dreams.

The shark didn't respond at first. She could tell that Elila was very conflicted about the situation. Although given all the problems facing them Pedryn supposed it was only natural.

She just couldn't believe that Elila would agree to go to their banquet. And she wanted to give the girl every chance to change her mind. She didn't want to leap to quickly at the silent olive branch that had been extended between them.

She didn't want Elila to know that for some unexplainable reason, she desperately wanted the girl to attend. Pedryn didn't really understand her own reasons. It was just a social dinner; nothing of importance was to happen.

But she wanted the heron there. She wanted the girl to see their wealth and partake in even the smallest part of their luxury. More then that, she wanted to simply be with Elila. She wanted to know the girl without the threat of war or blood between them.

"I mean…if that's all right?" Elila asked realizing that the stoic shark had been silent for even longer then usual.

Desperately, the heron hoped that she hadn't said something wrong. She hadn't meant to offend Pedryn with her presence. She knew that if an outsider came to a Fasara banquet it would shame the entire tribe. She hadn't even been thinking when she had asked to come along.

"Yes, that's fine. Now, let's see if we can't find some way to get you out of here." Pedryn said glancing around the hall.

She hadn't said the emotionally charged words that they were both expecting. She knew that Elila still couldn't swim. The fearful gaze that crossed her face every time she looked down at the water was evidence enough.

"Ah, can you help her up?" Pedryn called up to the sudden appearance of her cousin.

Elila looked up surprised to see Carielle standing above her. The distance from her inlay to the hall above seemed to be far too great to ever reach. But once Carielle sat down on the ledge, the heron realized that all she had to do was stand all the way up and she would be able to reach the shark above.

But she didn't want to stand up. She was petrified that she would slip right off the tile and into the water below. Yet, Elila knew that she didn't really have a choice. It was either reach up for Carielle or let Pedryn carry her back into the water.

"You'll be fine." Pedryn said giving a half-hearted attempt to reassure the girl.

She wasn't really sure that her voice was what Elila needed to hear. But she didn't want the heron to be so frightened. After all, she wasn't about to let the girl drown.

"Carielle, I heard that we saw quite a bit of each other this evening…" Elila muttered trying desperately to take her mind off the falling water below.

Carielle only grumbled at bit at the comment. But she dutifully pulled the heron safely to the solid ledge above. She wasn't entirely sure how she was going to tell Elila what happened. She suspected that it might be very upsetting for the girl to know that her own tribe mates had virtually tried to sacrifice her.

Yet, that was something Carielle would have to think about later. At the moment, she had a tribal banquet to attend. And a cousin to keep firmly separated from one enchanting heron.

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She walked in comfortable silence towards an unknown destination. Pedryn was a few feet in front of her discussing something of what would seem to be great importance. Her voice was hushed and her gaze was stern. And Elila could only hope that she wasn't the topic of conversation.

Pedryn was speaking to a shark that Elila couldn't recognize. And despite her familiarity with the Midali tribe, the heron quickly realized that there were many people she had yet to meet. But there was something odd about the shark standing so precariously close to Pedryn. She appeared to be a warrior. Her body was tall. Her muscles were rippling and firm. Even her stance and gait were of someone who had seen many battles.

But Elila knew that she had not seen this warrior on the stage. She had not been honored. Her name had not been called. And those little facts alone seemed strangely relevant to the suspicious heron.

Elila glanced to her side, relieved to see that Zeranna had chosen to remain close. She too seemed to sense the disturbance ahead between Pedryn and the stranger. There was even an abject look of horror beginning cross Zeranna's features.

And before Elila could even ask her what had caused her sudden alarm, the shark had slammed into her injured body. The heron didn't even recoil or try to break from the hold. Part of her complacency was due to the venom still strangling the air from her body. She was just too weak to put up much of a fight.

But the other reason for Elila's total lack of fight was her trust in the shark. Even though her association with Zeranna had been brief, the heron had complete faith in her. Elila was certainly confused by her actions. But she didn't believe for a moment that Zeranna was actually trying to harm her.

Instead, she let the shark move her light body into the firm steely depths of her arms. Elila heard the hushed sounds of a fight beginning to break out. And it was clear that everyone in the tribe had stopped moving.

But no matter how hard she tried, the heron couldn't see around the bulky frame of Zeranna's body. She tried kicking and squirming her way out of the shark's arms. But if her motions even garnered Zeranna's notice the tall warrior gave no show of it.

"Come on…let's just all calm down here. This doesn't have to get ugly." Elila heard Carielle's calm voice call out in the distance.

It was clear to the heron that she had been right. There was definitely something amiss among the Midali tribe mates. And she had a gut level feeling that in some way, she was responsible.

"This is already ugly Carielle. I say we deal this now before we go inside. You know the rules. We won't violate the tribal customs of our ancestors." Elila heard an unfamiliar voice ring out in the air behind.

The heron hurriedly glanced around at everything that she could. It was quite clear that Zeranna had efficiently moved her away from all the heated action. But out of the very corner of her eye she could see the forms of many more unfamiliar sharks gathering.

But she couldn't see Pedryn. And she still didn't know what was going on. All Elila could do was stare at the darkened trees and flowers surrounding their path.

She really didn't know where she was. Elila already knew that her sense of direction was rather poor when it came to the Gallion Village. But she could easily assume one thing; they had to be headed towards the structure that served as the Midali banquet hall.

She began to wonder if they were somewhere near the Fluid. It would only stand to reason that the sharks would choose to have their banquet as near to the ocean as possible. But Elila couldn't remember how long they had been walking. To her tired body, their movements seemed to have lasted a near eternity.

"You don't have any say in what goes on. I'm the Alpha. My word is law. And if you have a problem with that, then challenge me." Pedryn's voice finally reached the prying ears of the heron.

Elila immediately froze in Zeranna's arms. Pedryn's voice was low, threatening, and strangely familiar. There was a tone there that the heron hadn't heard in quite some time.

All during their rather awkward but amicable exchanges at the Fluid, the shark been polite and even keeled. Pedryn had never let her voice drop to that evil tone that Elila knew so well. It was a voice that screamed of bloodlust. And the heron knew that Pedryn's body was filling with the very brutal need to hunt.

"You forget who I am. If you don't keep me and my kind happy, we'll have another civil war on our hands. And you don't want that do you?" The stranger's voice called out again.

Elila cringed in Zeranna's arms hoping that somehow she was not the cause of such disharmony. But Elila couldn't gloss over the fact that she was an outsider. She knew that to some in the tribe, her very presence would be seen as a grave sign of disrespect. She couldn't really fault them for that. The jungle cats followed that law to a rather annoying exact.

But the heron suspected that this angry outburst was more then just a casual breech in tribal customs. This unfamiliar shark seemed irate. But Elila knew that that response was in essence, only natural as well. She wasn't just any outsider. She was the daughter of their greatest enemy.

"I know exactly who you are. And if you had your way you would rip this tribe right in two. But I won't let you do that. We have to fight together. This conflict is just what the Kingdom wants." Pedryn's voice sounded thick and snarled as it rang out into the night air.

"There wouldn't be this conflict if you would just give into our demands. We're only asking for what's rightfully ours." The stranger's voice called out into the thick humid night.

"You are asking for the impossible." Pedryn hissed in a low voice.

Even though Elila couldn't see the two sharks she knew that their bodies had to practically be touching. She had heard the movements of their legs. To her ears, it sounded like they were circling each other.

"Don't do this! You know how important this banquet is to us…and them." Elila heard another stranger's voice call out from behind. More then anything she wanted to see the events taking place. But Zeranna wouldn't loosen the grip of her arms.

"She's right. These problems are old. But tonight is for celebrations. This is the end of the Gallion. It's our duty to put these issues aside and properly celebrate the ending of a well-fought battle." Carielle's calm and reassuring voice called out into the crowd.

Elila squirmed again, desperately wanting to see the events unfolding behind. She wanted to know if they would all be sitting down to rather peaceful if somewhat awkward banquet. Or if they were about to watch a bloody physical challenge between Pedryn and her unknown aggressor. And more then anything, Elila found herself hoping that the flaring tempers would quiet. Because the young heron knew that the very sight of Pedryn succumbing to a rage filled bloodlust was perfect fodder for the many terrors of her dreams.

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"How you feelin' sweetie?" The mutt called out to Narlene.

The effects of the rollen juice were starting to give way to an affectionate sobriety. And as the lion worked on the pretty young cat, this breed less creature was beginning to find Narlene more attractive by the moment. After all, it wasn't every day that someone like Narlene actually walked into the Claw.

All though, Narlene had done far more then simply walk inside. She had sat herself down and demanded to be clawed. But that wasn't all that she wanted from this place. There was more bodywork that Narlene knew she had yet to go through.

But when all that was finished. When her form had been altered and permanently marked, the final phase of her evening would finally come to fruition. Because as she sat there letting the lion rip her nails out one by one, there was nameless warrior anxiously awaiting her company.

"Good…that stuff was good." Narlene muttered noticing for the first time how thick and heavy her tongue felt in her mouth.

Whatever concoction the lion shot her up with, made her body feel light as air. The substance was so strong that she didn't even feel a single incision that the lion made in her hand. But more then that, she just plain felt good.

"Yeah… that's one wild ride isn't it." The mutt said moving closer to Narlene.

The lion didn't stop the interaction. She saw no reason to. If Fiami wanted to waste her time trying to bed a brainless princess like Narlene, that was her prerogative. She saw no reason to interfere. And besides, from the looks of Narlene's tense body she suspected that the kitten could use a good trip around the mattress.

"Uh huh… What are you doing?" Narlene suddenly asked the lion.

The work on her hand had momentarily stopped so that the lion could light one long rolled piece of asari root. The smoke was billowing into Narlene's face. But the ashes seemed to be flickering right down onto her open hand.

"Oh relax, Xelly does that all the time." The mutt said bending down close to Narlene's ear.

She could instantly tell that the jungle kitten was far gone. Her eyes were large and dilated. Even her lips bore nothing short of a goofy grin. And it was quite clear that the drug's sedative qualities had long since taken effect. Every single limb of Narlene's body seemed to be momentarily paralyzed.

"Mmm…what are you? Panther? Cheetah? Puma?" Narlene asked staring into the wide green eyes of the hybrid at her side.

"A little bit of everything I guess. I'm not a pure cat…not by any stretch of the imagination. I even have some wolf in me." The mutt said shrugging her shoulders in abject honesty.

Fiami knew that to many people like Narlene, her mixed heritage was a social stigma. But over in the slums of the Gallion Village, Fiami knew that her kind would always be accepted. This was where the misfits tended to make their home. And it was unlucky for Narlene that in a neighborhood of miscreants, she was the only pure blood for miles.

"Ohhh, you're so pretty though." Narlene said pouting a bit at her statement.

In her drug enhanced state she was finding the mutt to be quite enchanting. Her short auburn hair seemed beautiful and shiny. Her green eyes were practically coming alive in the smoke filled room. And her skin, though scared and burned, seemed to be laid out like a pure silk canvas.

"Thank you." Fiami said kneeling back over the pretty little jungle kitten.

She looked at the girl stretched out before her and wondered where to bite first. She suspected that Narlene's blood would taste so much sweeter now that there drugs to pump through the very walls of her blue veins. Fiami had just decided on the long supple expanse of the kitten's neck when the lion began to nudge her rather emphatically.

"What is it Xelly?" She snapped unwilling to believe that her friend was interfering in the bite.

The lion only nudged her head to the side. And as Fiami turned, she saw what could possibly be the angriest jungle cat of all time. She seemed larger then life as she stood there lurking in the doorway. It was quite obvious that Narlene belonged to her. And it was more then apparent that she didn't let other people touch her property.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." The warrior called as she strode into the body shop like she owned the place.

Neither the mutt nor the lion dared to speak. They both knew what to expect. They had lived in the slums their whole life. There weren't many rules to live by. But the ones that they did have were cherished and enforced all the more severely.

Perhaps the most prized rule of all was not touching someone else's mate. Fiami knew that from her current position, this warrior had every right to presume the worst. And if she didn't start explaining fast, Fiami knew that she could expect one long painful beating.

"Hey you!!! It's my Kellis. I made her. She's mine!" Narlene squealed out happy to see the nameless warrior that she had procured for the evening.

The warrior didn't say anything. She just walked over to the girl. She gave the mutt a hard stare and the hybrid quickly retreated to the nearest corner.

Truthfully, she knew it was silly to carry on so much over a girl she hardly knew. But at heart, she was something of a possessive creature. And Narlene had promised her an intimate encounter.

And until she had her way with the girl she had no intention of letting a mixed breed have her first. Besides, this little jungle kitten was her meal ticket. Having her unnecessarily injured would certainly do no good.

"So, what do we have here?" The nameless warrior asked as she leaned down to inspect Narlene.

"Ah, you're having claws put in. How positively delicious." The warrior said smacking her lips in eager anticipation.

It was quite clear that Narlene was far more invocative then she had ever hoped. The girl was having pure gold claws surgically attached to her body. And as she looked down at her languid form, the warrior began to realize that this was going to be one of the most interesting nights of her entire life.

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"Seriously Yamina, you've got to stop acting like such a freak. You know one of these days your going to say something nasty to wrong the person." Rilari chided thinking that the reclusive jungle cat had finally lost her mind.

"Please…I'm telling you the truth. There are noises coming from Narlene's room." Yamina said allowing her voice to fall to little more then a beg.

She hated to feel so despondent and hopeless. But Rilari and Shaenebel weren't giving her any leeway. And it was quite clear that they resented every single minute that they spent speaking to her.

"Will you grow up! Of course there are noises coming from her room. Narlene left with Kellis. Right now they're doing all those sex things that I feel confident in assuming that you probably will never partake in. And when done correctly those little sexual acts can make a whole lotta noise." Shaenebel's voice rang out as a loud mock.

Yamina watched as the two girls walked away from her laughing. They headed to the nearest staircase still content to vocalize a few teasing barbs in her direction. It was times like this that made her want to run and hide.

She hated when they treated her this way. She wanted to scream at them. She was just as much a part of the tribe as they were. She deserved their respect and maybe even their friendship. After all, she had been through so much.

None of them knew what it was like to be her. None of them knew what it was like that night out there on the water. None of them knew what she had suffered through or what she had lost. And none of them knew that her silence was the only thing stopping a war.

They had no respect for her. And they made no qualms about the fact that they couldn't tolerate her presence. But tonight, she decided that that wasn't going to stop her.

Pushing her away her panic and her mounting desperation, she charged after them taking the stairs two at a time. She hurriedly chased after them as they stormed down the hall. A few more steps and they would be right in front of Narlene's room.

"WAIT! Please…" Yamina cried out.

They turned to stare at her with pure disdain in their eyes. They hated her and she knew it. But tonight those things couldn't matter. Tonight, she had to alleviate someone's pain and sobbing misery.

"Look, I don't know what your problem is but you seriously have to stop stalking us now." Rilari said crossing her arms across her chest in a pure motion of annoyance.

"Why don't you run along and try to find yourself a life?" Shaenebel chimed in always ready with a quick barb.

"Will you guys just listen for a minute? Something is wrong in there." Yamina said trying to convince them that there was in fact a problem.

"I don't hear anything." Shaenebel snorted rapidly turning on her heel to leave.

But Rilari stayed behind for only a moment. Listening with the acute sensitivity of pure cat, the girl finally heard what Yamina had been talking about. It was there.

Yet it was growing more faint by the moment. Something was whimpering in utter agony behind that door. And as she looked at Yamina, she suddenly realized that they had to get help.

"SHAENEBEL! Come back!!! She's right." Rilari screamed stopping the quick motions of her retreating friend.

"What are you talking about?" Shaenebel asked moving back to her friend's side.

She hovered between the two girls allowing her head to fall to the side. It only took a few more seconds for Shaenebel to hear it as well. She looked at Rilari and then Yamina wondering what if there were anything they could do.

"There's no one else here. I've searched the Lodge from top to bottom." Yamina said knowing the question that was going to come from their mouths.

The other two girls both fell silent thinking of some way to get through the door. They knew that the staff was long gone for the evening. And chances were that they had missed the last transport.

"The rest of the tribe should be here any moment. I mean the last transport should have arrived by now. It's not a long walk from there to here." Shaenebel said thinking that right now all they needed was a strong warrior to break through the door.

"Melaryn! She left the banquet hours ago. She should be here." Rilari said suddenly remembering the rather romantic way Melaryn had left arm in arm with her wife.

"I thought I heard a noise coming from her room. But I pounded on the door and didn't get an answer." Yamina replied knowing that she needed to answer Rilari's statement.

"Come on." Shaenebel snapped leading the way to Melaryn's room.

She didn't say anything but Shaenebel suspected that Melaryn had been far too busy to entertain Yamina's interruption. It was common tribal gossip that Yamina harbored a secret affection for the married warrior. And it was also a rather public piece of information that Melaryn had little tolerance for the quiet girl's abject mooning. This time Shaenebel would knock on the door. And she had no intention of leaving until Melaryn answered.

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They entered the building utterly devastated to see it devoid of all life. They had traveled a great distance. They had pushed themselves to the utter brink of exhaustion. They had been manipulated by an outsider. And they had been the sole witnesses to the tragic death of their tribal Alpha's daughter.

And now, after everything they had been through it looked as if they had no one to share it with. All they wanted to do was get back to their tribe. But after hours of walking they made it back to the banquet hall, in just enough time to see the last transport pull away without them.

Hopelessly, they wandered into the building wondering if a few tribe mates had decided to spend the night crashed out on the floor of the hall. It wouldn't be the first time. There were always a few who ended up drinking far too much rollen juice.

But tonight, they had no such luck. As Halauris and Lineva walked into the abandoned hall they realized that once again, they had failed. And without a single ounce of strength left between them, they sunk rather gracelessly onto the floor.

"We can't go on. The Lodge is too far. We'll have to spend the night here and leave in the morning." Halauris said telling the warrior what she most likely already knew.

"What if they find out before we get back?" Lineva whispered knowing that that situation was probably unlikely.

Although news traveled fast in the Gallion Village she doubted that this was the type of thing that would be noticed. Sharks rarely left anything of their victims. They usually devoured them whole. It was most probable that everyone would assume that Elila had simply gone missing.

"Don't think like that. We'll leave in the morning and get to Kellis first thing. No one else knows that Elila is dead. But tomorrow, we'll tell them all." Halauris said trying her best to reassure the warrior.

In the quiet darkness of the building they joined hands content to take comfort in the presence of each other. They didn't plan for this. And they certainly didn't want the responsibilities laid out before them.

But from a distant corner of the room, a lone woman turned over on her side. She had heard their intimate conversation and couldn't help but feel her heart flip in joy. That annoying little heron was finally gone. And with Elila out of the way, things with Kellis could finally go back to normal.

So, with a skip in her step and a gleam in her eyes Zelsi silently snuck out of the hall. She wanted to reach the golden warrior before the other two. After all, the news of Elila's untimely passing would sound so much better coming from her sweet mouth.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 18

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"You're serious aren't you? You want us to believe that you killed Elila." Anzari said with utter disbelief filling her voice. She knew that Licara was desperate to reclaim her reputation but even the very idea was far too ridiculous to even entertain.

"I'm not kidding around. Elila is dead. Her very life was drained away by my venom." Licara said feeling rather proud of herself.

She looked around at the stillness of her Alpha's quarters. Anzari was silent as she mulled over the information she had been given. Even her wives were quiet as they sat patiently on the floor. It was quite apparent that they were going to wait for some indication from their spouse before passing their usual caddy judgment.

And Licara desperately wished that she had proof to give them. After all, her original intention was to bring some piece of the heron back as a trophy. She could present Anzari with the gift of Elila's dead form and then the entire tribe could celebrate her victory.

But it was far too late for thoughts like that. Licara doubted that the shark had left anything of the heron. There certainly wouldn't be enough left over to constitute any type of substantial evidence.

"Where's your proof?" Anzari asked letting her eyes flicker back and forth across Licara's features.

She normally considered herself an excellent judge of people. But she was having a hard time reading this particular cobra. Licara had always been so sneaky and devious. She really never knew what to expect from her.

"I couldn't take any. Elila died in the arms of her tribe mates. They could only watch as she turned steel blue. They did nothing as the very air was strangled from her lungs." Licara said trying her best to explain the situation without having to mention the shark.

"Convenient." Anzari muttered stepping over the bodies of her wives to return to her favorite lounging chair.

"Tomorrow the entire Gallion Village will know of Elila's death. And then it won't be long…Thash will have to come." Licara said knowing that her Alpha could never deny how very much she wanted to get the jungle cat Alpha alone and helpless in their very own nest.

In matters of death and birth, the jungle cats were relentless in their pursuit of tradition. And for the tribal Alpha's daughter to die so far away from her home village would mean only one thing; the entire tribe would come to the Gallion. Licara had succeeded in doing what no other cobra had ever accomplished. Thash of the Fasara would finally have to leave the jungle cat village. And that little feat alone was worth her weight in plutonium credit.

"Fine, Licara I'll give you the benefit of the doubt…for now anyways. Let's say that you're telling the truth. Elila is dead. You won't mind if I get some proof of my own, will you?" Anzari asked daring the snake before her to deny her statement.

She waited for several long minutes as uncertainty crossed Licara's features. It was quite clear that the young cobra had no idea what she was referring to. And that was just fine with her. She would prefer to leave Licara in the dark, at least for now.

"No, of course not. I'm telling you the truth. I am." Licara said firmly trying to stand up for herself.

Anzari only smirked as she demurely pressed a hidden button on her chair. And almost instantly her guard walked through the door. She had her eyes wide and weapon drawn. It was quite clear that she expected to be breaking up sort of heated fight.

"You can stand down. I only need you to get Akina and Azalea for me. Tell them to hurry. I have an assignment for them." Anzari said dismissing her guard with a quick nod of the head.

Instantly, the guard sheathed her bronze knife and quickly left the room. Licara couldn't help but shake her head at the sight. She understood that the knife was the weapon of choice of their ancestors. But such a primitive weapon made no sense. Not in today's world of air riffles and viral tamers anyways.

"Licara I should tell you that if you're telling me truth, I'll reward you beyond your wildest dreams." Anzari quickly said crossing the room to stand in front of her cobra warrior. She circled the hybrid from behind leaning close to whisper in her ear. There were even certain things that she didn't want her wives to know.

"I know what you want. I've always known. You think that I don't know about you but I do. You think that you're so very clever. But I know everything Licara. I know all about your little night games." Anzari whispered letting her tongue grace the warrior's ear.

Licara shuddered at the contact. Her first instinct was to scream and run in panic. Anzari couldn't possibly know what she had done. No one was supposed to know. She had been so careful.

But here was her tribal Alpha saying all the right things to leave her sufficiently paranoid. And if Licara didn't know better she would think Anzari was enjoying the vulgar contact between them. Warriors didn't touch each other like this. Licara knew that she should challenge the woman right where she stood. And yet for some reason, the words seemed to die, strangled away in the back of her throat.

"But Licara you should know if you're lying to me I'll punish you in the worst possible way." Anzari threatened moving away to step over her wives.

"I'll tell everyone your dirty little secret." The Alpha threatened to the uproarious laughter of her women.

Licara couldn't wait until everyone knew that Elila was dead. She couldn't wait to have this all behind her. And she couldn't wait for the day when she would be tribal Alpha.

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Zelsi wandered out in the darkened recess of the Gallion Village. Her every instinct was to get back to the Lodge as quickly as possible. After all, the news of Elila's untimely passing wasn't information that she was meant to keep for herself.

But she couldn't just charge back home, as much as she would like to. There was someone she had to see first. There was someone who would find this information practically divine. And besides, getting home without a transport was going to be a trick in itself.

So carefully, Zelsi walked over to the old sewer grate knowing that she had to be careful. No one could see her do this. She was about to go to a place that no hybrid could ever know of.

After she keyed in the code she looked round once more to make sure that no one would see her. But it was the middle of the night after all and her departure wasn't a visible one. With one last strangled breath she prepared for the next phase.

No matter how many times she made this trip the method never ceased to frighten her. Carefully, she waited for the floor to drop out and before she knew what had happened she was tumbling head first to the underworld below. This was her place. This was where she belonged. This was the long forgotten land of the ancient sinners. But to Zelsi, it was the place she preferred to call home.

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They had settled into the long hall of the banquet. Every person there was agitated and filled with tension. But at least the fight had been avoided. Still, Elila couldn't help but feel conspicuous and terribly unwanted.

The Midali banquet hall was set up very similar to that of the Fasara. There were long tables set up in every direction imaginable. The only difference between the two seemed to be the deep-water basin that filled the center of every table in the room.

It was filled with swimming fish of all shapes and sizes. Elila couldn't help but find the presentation stunning to say the least. But it was also a bit worrisome. She sincerely hoped that this was not how the sharks intended to garner their meals.

There was an elaborate fountain set in the center of the room that contained beautiful coral material of all shapes and sizes. As they had walked in the room Elila had been hurriedly rushed past the splashing fountain. She found herself desperate to get another look. Because to her, it looked like the very bottom of it was made from all the coins of old. It looked like the ancient money of Earth, and the heron was more then casually curious.

The entire hall had a beautiful and much expected water theme. There were even small rifts of water running down the sides of all surroundings walls. It was quite an exquisite display. A dark flickering blue light illuminated the walls and Elila couldn't help but find the whole thing just a bit romantic.

There were white flowers stretched out on the tables for as far as they eye could see. Carefully, the heron picked one up that was closest to her chair. She was a bit surprised and disappointed to find the small petals were completely scentless. But Elila knew that it was because of the shark's enhanced sense of smell. A strong floral aroma would probably play havoc with their senses.

The room was filled with strange sub harmonic sounds. She could only guess that she was listening to the sounds of whales or dolphins. Once she had heard that in the ancient days, sharks used the noise of other marine life to find their way. But that was a long time ago. That was before the Midali took their first steps on land.

Despite her rather strange circumstances, Elila found herself enjoying the hall's environment. The air was humid and rich. It reminded her of a casino or gaming hall in the swamp. And the lights were wonderfully dim and gentle. For once, the heron didn't feel blinded by the bright lights of her jungle cat brethren.

But the room's splendor was truly what took Elila's breath away. There were intricate coral designs laid into the very surface of every table present. Even the chairs they sat on were constructed of only the finest old Earth materials. If the heron wasn't mistaken, she was sitting on pure silver.

And Elila couldn't help but blush at the very thought. After all, she was from the swamp. And the heron knew that something as rare and hard to come by as silver would earn anyone a prized piece of credit.

The heron looked at those seated around her. She noticed that it was no accident that she had been carefully sandwiched between Carielle and Zeranna. The two warriors across from her were unfamiliar. But at the moment they seemed quite unconcerned with her.

And besides, Elila wasn't really interested in them. Her attention was drawn the few careful inches to the head of the table. Pedryn was so calmly sitting there presiding over the banquet. And the heron couldn't help but think that in a million years she had never expected to be taking part in a sacred Midali tradition.

Carefully, Elila listened as conversations began to spring up all around her. Carielle was busy discussing battle techniques with the two warriors seated across the table. Even Zeranna was exchanging a few pleasant words of small talk.

But at the moment, Elila didn't really mind being ignored. It gave her a chance to focus on all that had happened. But even though things were relatively calm, she couldn't help but cast Pedryn the occasional careful glance.

The heron wasn't sure what would have happened to her if a fight had broken out. And she wasn't sure what Pedryn would have done either. And thinking about it only further caused the heron to squirm in frightened anticipation.

For a few long moments, the heron let her mind wander to the rather unpleasant scenario of having to watch a physical brawl. As her mind flashed over the images of a bloodthirsty Pedryn, she found herself shocked by the voices now surrounding her. She quickened from her daydream long enough to recognize the sounds coming from across the table. There were two warriors speaking rather heatedly with Zeranna. Their voices were familiar enough from the fight before. They were the ones who had caused the incident. And Elila couldn't help but look them over with a growing fear.

But for the time being, Zeranna seemed to have the situation well in hand. In fact, they seemed to have little interest in her at the moment. And Elila couldn't be more relieved. She just wanted things to remain calm and even keeled.

Besides, there was something else that the heron desperately needed to know. Elila wanted to know how she ended up with the Midali. She wanted to know how Carielle had come to find her. But more then anything, she wanted to know the truth.

Slowly, she turned to Carielle who had already caught her gaze with a wince of recognition. Instantly Elila could see how uncomfortable the shark was. Carielle didn't want to tell her what happened. Whatever had taken place was apparently so shocking that even the shark couldn't bare to discuss it. But Elila had to know. And she hoped that despite everything else, Carielle would at least be honest with her.

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She carefully watched the heron that happened to only be inches from her body. It was maddening to have Elila so close. And truthfully, she wanted to have the girl even closer.

But Carielle had been right. Such a strange act of proximity would have not only have been dangerous but would have looked odd to the rest of the tribe. It was much better this way. It was necessary to keep Elila at bay, for now anyways.

But Pedryn couldn't help but stare at her and wonder what thoughts were going through the heron's mind. She knew that Elila had to be angry with all that had happened to her. Being hunted was never some thing easily tolerated. Not that Pedryn could really sympathize when it came to that. After all, she was an apex predator.

Yet she knew it had to be more then simply the cobra that was bothering Elila. The girl was confused and virtually abandoned in a tribe of bloodthirsty sharks. And though Zeranna had dutifully and swiftly gotten the heron away from the near imploding fight, she knew that it had still upset Elila. Pedryn knew there was good reason for Elila to be alarmed. If the others ever got Elila alone and secluded from the rest of the tribe, Pedryn couldn't even bare to think of the consequences.

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The girl didn't know what was going on. She didn't know about the dissenters. And Elila certainly didn't know that it was her own alpha that was the continual cause of such disharmony.

But Pedryn had promised not tell. The fate of the tribe depended on it. Yet, Pedryn hated the fact that it meant lying to Elila and keeping her in the dark on all matters of importance. She wanted to tell the heron the truth about everything. And desperately, she found herself needing to tell Elila what really happened that night on the water.

Yet, Elila wasn't Pedryn only cause for immediate concern. The others were keeping a rather close eye on the girl. Even though Thash was their real target, she didn't want Elila to get hurt in the interim. Sometimes the best way to hurt someone was to take it out on their innocent and quite oblivious child.

Pedryn didn't want to think that way. These were her tribe mates after all, despite any disagreements that they might have. But when it came to Elila, the shark knew that she would much prefer to error on the side of caution. The heron had already been through far too much. And Pedryn was firmly determined not to let anything else happen to her.

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"So, let me get this straight. They just threw me at you?" Elila asked shocked by the words that Carielle was sharing.

It seemed comical and tragic all at once. How could her tribe mates simply abandon her? But Carielle didn't have an answer for that one. All she could do was recount the telling of events. And that alone, was enough to upset Elila.

"Do you have any idea who they were?" Elila asked wondering what tribe mates had left her to the mercy of what they perceived to be a bloodthirsty shark.

"No, the one was a warrior. I've fought her before. I don't know her name though. She's older. And the other was a girl about your age. I've never met her before." Carielle answered taking long sip of her seawater spritzer.

"You've fought the warrior? Here at the Gallion?" Elila asked causally. She had already begun to make a mental list of every warrior on the Gallion team.

"No, it was during the war." Carielle answered stiffly.

It was weird. For a while there she had forgotten that there had been a war. But no one at the table had. And they all stared her with silent recrimination in their eyes making Elila feel like the smallest person on the entire planet.

She hadn't meant to offend them or bring up a sore subject. And it was clear that neither Carielle nor Zeranna was going to intervene. They had both lost many people to the fighting.

But so had Elila. Yet at the moment, the heron knew that she was a visual reminder of everything terrible that had happened to them. She was the daughter of their greatest enemy. And as the palpable silence stretched on for long solid minutes, the heron was beginning to wonder if she was about to be punished for the many sins of her alpha.

"It's all right Elila. No one blames you for the war. Our wounds are still fresh. But, it's not you." One of the sharks said from across the table.

Elila was terribly relieved that someone had finally broken the silence. She was a bit surprised to see that it was one of the warriors from the eariler altercation. But the heron was grateful, regardless of who came to her verbal rescue.

The heron glanced around the table a bit surprised to see that Pedryn also looked relieved. It was clear that the Alpha shark didn't know what to say to break the tension.

But Elila could only smile at the thought. Pedryn was certainly far from a diplomat. She was warrior, a fighter, and maybe even in some distant cases a champion.

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Narlene woke up flat on her back and suffering from a terrible headache. Looking around the room she could see all the familiar surrounding of the god-awful room that she had rented from the Claw. But most disturbing was the fact that her nameless warrior was crouched on the floor rummaging through her belongings.

She was disoriented as she sat up. But it was clear that her low-class ratty version of Kellis finally saw that she was awake. Yet her alert state wasn't enough to deter the warrior from searching.

And just when Narlene was about to spout off an angry spat for the presumptuous invasion of her personal property, the warrior got up and quickly crossed the room. Quietly, she opened the door and handed a waiting employee a thick wad of credits. Narlene wanted to open her mouth to protest, but nothing came out.

Her tongue felt heavy and limp. Her throat was scratchy and dry. Even her body ached in all the wrong places.

Looking down, she was relieved to see that at least the procedure had been carried out. The golden claws were firmly in place. She wanted to see them. She wanted to extend them to their full beautiful weapon length.

But she knew that wouldn't happen for another several hours. Her body needed time to heal. But she also needed time alone with this warrior, even if she was a thief.

"Here, drink this." The warrior said placing a tray on the stained nightstand.

Narlene looked over seeing a tall glass of bubbling liquid. She found herself quite desperate to speak. But again, nothing came out. Her voice was clearly gone. And her throat was only capable of making these sad pathetic wheezing type noises.

Reaching out for the glass she found that her hands wouldn't move. It had to be the procedure. The wounds still needed time to heal.

But for whatever reason, the warrior seemed to take pity on her. Carefully, she brought the bubbling glass to Narlene's lips. And instantly, the young jungle cat downed the fluid in one long gulp.

Narlene didn't think that she had ever tasted something so delicious. It was warm and tangy. And the very second that it hit her tongue she felt her body bounce in pure pleasure.

Narlene really had no idea what it was that she had just drank. And truthfully, she didn't care. All Narlene could be concerned with was getting what she needed from the warrior. And right now, she needed the warrior to take her.

She needed it fast, without preamble or preparation. And she needed it hard, without gentleness or any type of tender touch. But most important, she just plain needed to be thoroughly sexed in every single conceivable way.

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Shaenebel banged on the door as hard as her fist would allow. She felt the bones ache beneath her skin. She had been at this too long.

"Where are they?" Rilari squealed growing more concerned by the moment.

They had been pounding on Melaryn's door for what seemed like eternity. They all knew that something terrible was going in Narlene's locked room. They all had their own suspicions. And they were all assuming the absolute worst.

They had come to find Melaryn. They knew that she was the only other warrior actually in the Lodge at the moment. But as the minutes ticked by they were growing more then worried.

And Yamina, who had been trying desperately for what seemed like hours to help the trapped person, was just about ready to give up. She slumped on the ground next to the other two jungle cats. She was beginning to find the entire situation hopeless.

But then the door opened. And instantly, Yamina regretted her rather unfortunate position on the floor. Because from where she sat, the young cat could practically see right up the loose-fitting sheet of Melaryn. And the entire sight was like candy for her eyes.

Melaryn was standing there in nothing but a long purple sheet. Her hair was mussed and hanging loosely around her shoulders. And the bedding was doing very little to hide her ample breasts, firm muscles, her long creamy legs. And despite the severity of the situation, Yamina felt herself momentarily shocked by arousal.

Experiencing desire wasn't something that she was accustomed to, not since that night on the water. Even before the attack she had always been considered somewhat shy. But there was just something about Melaryn that always got her body heat rising.

And her attraction to the very married warrior was something that she didn't care to ever discuss, not even with Elila. It was something that she didn't even care to really spend that much time thinking about. After all, her attraction to Melaryn could never go anywhere.

It was really only a source of embarrassment for her. Whenever the warrior was around she would feel the uncontrollable need to giggle or toss her hair. She had a hard time making eye contact with the tall towering blonde. But the absolute worse was every time that she would try to speak. Her tongue would get tied and her voice would rise to a sheer high screech. Everyone in the entire room would know just how she felt about the warrior.

"I don't understand. What do you mean you're hearing noises?" Yamina looked up to hear the angry voice of Melaryn call down to her.

She looked down at the floor feeling small and unprepared. She couldn't seem to bare the gaze of the warrior's soft yellow eyes. It was like Melaryn could see into her mind. It was almost like the warrior knew all her secret thoughts and dreams.

"I…I…I..." Yamina began unable to clearly think.

It wasn't just the warrior's nude proximity that was disturbing her, it was everything. Her exhaustion was catching up with her body. And her anxiety was playing tricks with her mind. Even the presence of the two girls at her side was distorting her perception.

And when she got confused and frustrated, that's when it happened. She would loose the ability to speak clearly. Stuttering had always been a problem for her. There didn't seem to be anything she could do for it. It only seemed to grow worse at times, especially when she was around Melaryn.

"Look, I don't know what's going on. It sounds like someone is hurt. The noise is like these real loud guttural moans." Shaenebel chimed in with an annoyed sigh. After all, it was quite clear that Yamina wasn't going to be any help.

"We just need you to come check out. Narlene could be hurt in there." Rilari added obviously concerned for her best friend.

"All right…I'll be right back." Melaryn said quietly shutting the door between them.

That left Yamina all alone with the other two. And she suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented. It was almost like she couldn't clearly see all the things surrounding her.

"Hey freak, will you get off the floor?" Shaenebel snarled finding Yamina's company wholly unpleasant.

But Yamina couldn't move. She knew that after everything she had tried to do tonight, it was all finally too much. She was having a panic attack. And no matter how much she wanted it to stop, she couldn't get her lungs to even reach for air.

She could feel someone shaking her. But she couldn't seem to make out their face. Briefly she wondered if it was Elila. When she got like this it seemed that her friend was always the one to find her.

Slowly, Yamina tried open her mouth to speak. She needed to Elila that she had to get help. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest. She could feel her body literally screaming for breath. This time, her symptoms were severe. And when she got like this Yamina knew that only large amounts of medication could ever bring her back from the darkness filling her eyes.

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"What the hell happened to her?" Shaenebel scoffed as she followed Melaryn into the nearest stair well.

"Panic attack…she'll be fine. Neisha will look after her." Melaryn mumbled wishing that she hadn't had to force the fragile young cat upon her wife.

But Neisha didn't even seem to mind. Her wife's abundance for care and concern never ceased to amaze her. This was supposed to be their special trip together. It was one of the few times that they were both away from the children.

And as Melaryn charged down the stairs with Rilari and Shaenebel struggling to follow, she couldn't help but be annoyed. She had every reason to believe that nothing was going on behind Narlene's door. She suspected that these two young cats had simply misheard a romantic rendezvous.

"Where is it?" Melaryn asked stopping her tracks when she walked out into the unfamiliar hall.

This was the area of the Lodge that stored only the most eligible young female cats. And being as such, it was a floor that Melaryn had absolutely no reason to ever visit. After all, she couldn't imagine that her wife would be very pleased if she chose to spend her time with the nubile innocents.

"It's here." Rilari said standing next to Narlene's door.

Melaryn opened her mouth to begin the lecture that she had been saving. She wanted to scream at them for interrupting a romantic and private encounter with her wife. She wanted to tell them that they were starting rumors and wasting her valuable time.

But she couldn't say any of those things. Because standing inches from the thick wooden door she could hear the sounds of someone whimpering. And yet, it was more then a frightened or scared voice. Melaryn had been in far too many battles not to be able to recognize the sounds of someone dying.

"Stand back!" Melaryn snapped watching as both young cats hurriedly got out of the way.

Taking a few long strides she ran at the door kicking it right off its hinges. It landed in an angry loud thud allowing all three of them to hurriedly scamper inside. Melaryn saw her first as she came charging through the threshold.

There on the floor, lying in a pool of vomit, blood, and drool was the tribe's golden warrior. And as Melaryn took in her quaking, sullen, and sickly form she knew that they were going to have to act fast if they were going to save her life. Because from the looks of it, Kellis didn't even have the strength to survive the night.

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She rested against the warrior letting her body absorb the strength and heat. They were comfortable enough, lying together on the thick carpets of the banquet hall. Although, Halauris knew that she would give anything to be at the Lodge.

She wanted to feel safe. She wanted to be with her own kind. But more then that, she wanted the burden of Elila lifted from her mind.

But the girl had the sinking suspicion that no matter how many years passed, she would never ever be able to forget the shade of the heron's blue skin. And the image of the shark rising up from the distance was something that would always haunt her dreams. And yet, she knew that it was her guilt that would surely be the heaviest burden of all.

Their kind strictly followed the code of honor. And tonight, she knew that they had violated it in the worst possible way. They had left Elila behind to die. They sacrificed her so that they might live. And Halauris was beginning to wonder if they would pay a high price for their misdeed.

Every warrior in the tribe took a sacred oath of honor. And tonight, Lineva had violated it. When they became a champion of the Fasara tribe, they were expected to die for the Alpha. But it wasn't just Thash they were to protect. Every single member of Thash's family was a part of that oath as well. They were the tribe's royalty. And they were expected to be protected above all else.

Even though Elila might have looked different on the outside, she was still a part of them. Lineva had taken an oath to protect her. And according to tribal customs, Lineva's very life was now in the temperamental hands of Thash.

Halauris was beginning to wonder if Lineva's days were numbered. Thash was well known for being strict and unforgiving. Elila was the only living heir to the throne. Without her, Thash's entire legacy was now a matter of question.

If the blinding misery of losing an only daughter wasn't painful enough, Halauris suspected that the thought of losing the throne might just push the Alpha right over the edge. And what better target for her anger and misery then the warrior who failed to protect her child? Halauris knew that the situation was wrought for massive upheaval and tribal change.

But she also knew that unfortunately, she would be caught in the very center of it all. She had been with Lineva as the warrior abandoned the heron. She hadn't gone back for Elila. She had only run, like a terrified coward.

Of course legally, there could be no terminal punishment for her crime. Women just weren't held responsible for these types of things. But Halauris knew that there were other ways her tribe mates might see fit to dole out her penalty.

Throughout her entire life she had enjoyed a rather dubious position in the popular sect of the tribe. Her nights were anything but free. She was invited to every single event in the tribe. And the probability of a sought after marriage contract was all but set in stone. Up until this night, her future had been one of promise and fortune.

But all that could change if Thash decided she too was to blame. Though not exactly legal, the tribal Alpha could easily remove her family's holdings and wealth. Her alpha and her sibling could both be dishonored before the tribe. And her mother would be left with nothing.

And the more Halauris thought of it, the more she was convinced that Thash would lash out in anger towards her as well. Halauris imagined that if Elila had been her daughter, sister, or mother, she would react in much the same way. After all, how could one blame a grieving parent for needing to hold someone accountable?

But as she gazed at the sleeping warrior at her side, Halauris knew she had another option. If she turned on Lineva, the tribe might go easy on her. They might even feel sympathy for her.

It was widely known that Lineva was something of a social recluse. Halauris doubted that she had a single friend on the entire tribal council. It certainly wouldn't be difficult to spread a few lies about the warrior.

Nearly all of the warriors shared a special camaraderie and a deep bond born of hardship and war. But as far as Halauris could tell, Lineva was on the outside of all that. She didn't seem to have a friend anywhere.

It would be so easy to tell them all what they wanted to hear. She could tell Thash that she begged and pleaded with the warrior to go back for Elila. She could even tell the Alpha that Elila's death was unnecessary. Simply put, she could tell Thash that it was all Lineva's fault.

But as she looked at the concern and worry stretching across Lineva's sleeping face, the girl didn't think she had it in her to do such cruel things. It was her fear making her think in such despicable ways. She wasn't a liar. And she didn't stab her friends in the back.

Halauris stiffened at the thought as it came crashing into her mind. Somewhere during their rather chaotic and terrifying evening she had begun to think of Lineva as her friend. This warrior, that up until a few hours ago was a complete stranger, had suddenly come to mean something to her.

A bit frightened by the thought of an ill-fated blossoming friendship, Halauris settled back down onto her side. She wanted to put distance between herself and the warrior. She wanted to clear her mind and focus on somehow surviving this impossible situation.

But she couldn't seem to get her body to cooperate. Instead of a cool solitary space of comfortable floor, she felt herself inching closer to the warrior's sleeping form. It wasn't until she had her head gently resting against Lineva's shoulder that she even felt safe enough to close her eyes. And that's when Halauris realized it just might be something more then friendship that caused her body to seek the warrior's.

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Licara sat and eagerly awaited the news of Elila's death. She didn't even mind that the Alpha had virtually left her under guarded lock. Things like that couldn't matter to her anymore. After all, she was about to have her future handed to her on a silver platter.

She could wait for the inevitable good fortune that was bound to walk through the door at any moment. Nothing could possibly disrupt her good mood. For the first time in what seemed like eternity, she was going to have her reputation returned. Anzari would be forced to return her land and her holdings. And the Alpha would be hard pressed to find a reason not to return her previous position in the tribe.

At one time, she had been a premier sentry. She had fully enjoyed the riches and all the pleasures of one most honored and revered. But that was before she lost the battle.

Licara didn't see how the entire tribe could blame her alone for losing the basin. There had been tens of hundreds of warriors out there fighting for their tribal home. But she alone had been punished for their failure.

To this day Licara couldn't understand how they had been so easily outmaneuvered. It was like the enemy had known every single move they were going to make. Their defeat had been fast, furious and brutal. And when it was all over, the dholes had taken the Greenery Basin for their own.

After that, the tribe had been divided and relocated. The cobras really had no home to call their own. Many of the tribe had followed Anzari here, to make a temporary home in the Gallion Village.

But Licara wasn't ready to accept defeat so easily. Killing Elila had only been the first step on her road to victory. Once the death of the heron was announced, she would again be a respected member of her tribe.

Others would listen to her. She could get them to understand. But more importantly, she could get them to follow. And when she had the support of every single cobra that she could find, Licara would lead them all back to the basin. And then, they would all stand together and retake what had been lost so very long ago.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 19

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"I should have known it was you. You didn't key the right entry code. The entire system is going crazy." Orica snarled seeing the tired form of the familiar concubine make her way through the remaining security gate.

"Get off my back! If you all didn't insist on changing the codes every other day it wouldn't be so hard to keep them straight. Besides, I never got the last update packet. How was I supposed to know you changed the entry lock?" Zelsi screamed not caring who overheard her fight with the other woman.

The bitterness between them was old and tired. And it was no secret that they detested every single minute that they were forced to work together. But despite their callous indifference towards one another there was one common bond that they shared.

"It's not my fault you didn't get the new packet! You weren't at your checkpoint! I'm not your babysitter Zelsi." Orica yelled at the woman she hated being forced to work with.

"I couldn't make the drop-off! You know, maybe if you actually went above surface every once in a while you would remember what it's like up there in the real world. I was with a very important customer. I couldn't just leave." Zelsi answered not sure why she was even bothering to explain herself to this woman.

Orica never gave her the benefit of the doubt. The woman was unwilling and unable to ever see things from her point of view. And Zelsi had long since stopped caring.

"Don't presume to speak to me like that. I know all too well what the world above is like. I've lived on the surface a lot longer then you. That's why I'm down here. That's why I gave everything up. Do you think I enjoy living like a subterranean rat? I live down here so that I can make a difference." Orica answered clearly talking down to the concubine at her side.

"Don't preach to me! We've all made sacrifices!" Zelsi said pushing the woman out of her way.

The trip down was never an easy one. And there was always a certain element of danger to these little visits that Zelsi would much prefer to avoid. And Zelsi didn't risk her identity just have a tired argument with Orica. She had traveled to the Summit for a much greater purpose.

"This is new." Zelsi muttered stopping in front of an old-fashioned chain linked fence that blocked her entrance to the cavern beyond.

"Extra security measure…we're just trying to be cautious. You know, the time is growing near." Orica added watching as the concubine fingered the fence.

"This is worthless. Any hybrid could easily scale the top of this. And this material isn't very sturdy. Where did you even get it? I know half a dozen jungle cats that could snap this metal in half." Zelsi snarled trying to prove that all of Orica's hard work had been for nothing.

"You know, you just don't know anything about security do you?" Orica answered demonstrating the true purpose of the older chain links.

Zelsi watched as the cheetah reached her hand out and fingered the metal. She had done the same thing earlier, only with less force. But this time an alarmed sounded. The shrieking noise blistered her ears. And it seemed to take forever for Orica to reach out and key the deactivation sequence into the waiting key panel.

"It's just a sensor point. You don't really think we would trust our security to something as breakable as steel, do you?" Orica mocked flashing the stunned concubine a wide toothy grin.

Zelsi only stared at the smiling cheetah as Orica guided her through the new checkpoint. She was growing weary of these visits. And at times, Zelsi even questioned her motives for joining the others. But tonight, she couldn't let her personal dislike of Orica distract her from her true purpose.

"Take me to see the Dragon. I have news that can't wait." Zelsi snarled allowing the cheetah to lock her safely inside.

Orica looked her over as if questioning her sincerity. It certainly wasn't common practice to see the Dragon. Only the most trusted followers ever spoke directly with their leader. But tonight, Zelsi suspected that she would have the ear of the most revered hybrid in all the Summit.

Because she had information that no one else could possibly know. She brought news of Elila's death. And that was a small tidbit that was sure to earn Zelsi the respect and reward that she so richly deserved.

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She had watched her for what seemed like eternity. Elila was careless as she stood there. The heron was out in the wide open space of night with only her beauty as a shield.

So many times Pedryn had opened her mouth to alert the heron to her presence. She didn't want Elila to think that she was stalking her. After all, the heron was already being actively hunted. She didn't need anything else to worry about.

But no matter how hard she tried; Pedryn couldn't seem to find her voice. She watched her from a distance, allowing herself to study the naked emotions as they came playing across her features. It was clear that Elila was frightened.

And yet, it wasn't a debilitating type of fear. There was strength there too. And in some way, Pedryn found it terribly odd that a mere heron would possess such courage.

There were other things, trickling just beneath the surface of Elila's blue-tinged skin. The heron seemed worried, anxious, and perhaps even a bit helpless. But these were all things that Pedryn had expected to see. She was an accomplished hunter. She knew all too well the emotions that plagued the mind of a marked prey.

But there was something else that was intriguing the usually callous shark. It was this aura that kept her eyes rapt to Elila's form. And in brief fleeting moments of honesty, Pedryn realized that this strange blanket of feeling was what attracted her to Elila in the first place.

It was this thing that kept her fascinated by the heron and all she did. And as she looked at Elila recovering form, she realized that it was her will to live. The heron was certainly a survivor; Pedryn had intimate first-hand knowledge of that.

She saw a flash of color off in the distance. At this time of night Pedryn knew that there should be no motion. In fact, the Midali should be the only tribe on the entire grounds. Instantly, she moved towards the heron expecting the worst.

The Alpha shark reached Elila's side in a mere matter of seconds easily crossing the distance between them. Looking out in the spacious dark of the Gallion night, Pedryn could see that the movement had been from nothing more then a mere rat. Although unsettling, a rodent changeling was hardly cause for alarm.

"Are you done watching me?" Elila asked in a soft voice.

Pedryn was silent for a moment as she realized that the heron had addressed her. She just wasn't used to friendly chats with her former victim. And that's when Pedryn felt the air leave her body. She hated that word, 'victim.' It made things seem so final and ugly. Of course it had been ugly, very brutal and painful.

And for a brief moment Pedryn felt a meaningless apology lodge in her throat. But she couldn't say those things to Elila. She couldn't tell her what really happened. She couldn't tell her that there had been no other way.

"You knew I was out here?" Pedryn asked cautiously. If the heron had been alerted to presence, Pedryn didn't understand why Elila hadn't run back inside with others. Surely, the heron would have felt safer in the Midali hall then to be outside all alone with her.

If the shark wanted some form of verbal recognition, she didn't get one. Elila only mutely nodded her head letting the shark know that she had indeed been aware of her silent company. And that was a small fact that unnerved the normally fearless shark. She had been so very careful in her following of the heron. Elila, with only the senses of a heron, should never have been able to detect her presence. Actually, the very idea was repugnant to the accomplished shark. After all, Pedryn hated to think that her skills as hunter could be anything less then perfect.

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"How did you know?" Pedryn asked softly.

The hunter was most concerned with her prowess. Pedryn had made absolute certain that as she exited the banquet hall she hadn't made a sound. She had moved quickly and silently into the distance. Elila should never have even perceived her presence.

Elila looked at her, letting the flickering light from the building behind illuminate her features. To Pedryn, it seemed like Elila was trying to look right through her. She felt terribly naked and exposed. It was an odd sensation for the strong shark to feel so vulnerable under the mere gaze of a blue heron.

"I always know when you're around Pedryn. I could sense it." Elila answered seeing no reason not answer the shark truthfully.

It wasn't just Pedryn that she sensed. It was all sharks, even though Pedryn's presence did tend to stand out. She sensed the predator as all hyper alert prey might. Her stomach would knot and her blood would rush right through her veins. And Elila had to suppress her every natural instinct for flight.

But Pedryn didn't understand the sixth sense of marked victim. She had no reason to. The Alpha shark had only ever been on the rewarding side of the hunt.

To her, Elila's statement had been one of accusation. The heron was letting her know that she found her very presence so repugnant she could sense it from a distance. And Pedryn felt terribly ashamed. It was times like this that she missed the person that she used to be.

Before that night on the water, she had been a warrior of honor and respect. Now, she was only cold and dead. The only thing that even quickened her was the hunt.

But being with Elila did things to her. It made her want to reach inside her very chest and force her heart to beat. Ever since her first ill-fated encounter with the heron, she felt like a mere ghost of a former self. And normally, Pedryn had no trouble accepting the haunting presence of misery.

Yet, whenever she was with Elila she found herself wanting to voice her sorrow. Desperately, she wanted to feel again. She wanted to feel strong and worthy of the position bestowed on her. But more then that, she simply wanted to feel alive.

"I am sorry. I will leave you." Pedryn whispered feeling a cold knife plunge into her stomach.

For the briefest of seconds, she had forgotten that she was a monster. She forgot that Elila could never do anything but hate her. More then that, Pedryn simply forgot to be the heron's enemy.

"No! I need to speak with you." Elila said quickly wanting the shark to remain by her side.

And it was quite clear that Pedryn was uncomfortable with the situation. She returned to the heron with an awkward walk that seemed almost comical on the usually graceful shark. Elila had never seen Pedryn nervous. She didn't even know the shark was capable of such a trivial emotion.

Elila didn't really understand why Pedryn had tried to scurry away so quickly. She hadn't meant to say anything offensive. The heron just didn't understand the mind of a hunter.

To Elila, the situation was quite obvious. She had perceived Pedryn's location so quickly because her senses were virtually reeling. When one is hunted, the mind goes into overdrive in a desperate attempt to protect the body. And ever since Elila had woken to find her skin a dark shade of steel blue, her need to stay alert had been one of primary importance.

Pedryn stood mutely next to the heron wondering what it was that Elila wanted to say to her. Her body stiffened in anticipation of anything. She braced herself for anything from a physical assault to a verbal litany. She certainly wouldn't blame Elila for doing either. And the shark was more then certain that she wouldn't even try to defend herself.

But at the moment, Elila was far too concerned with their location for an open and honest discussion. They were standing only yards from the Midali Hall. The large doors would open and shut in a periodic fashion revealing the drunk and excited celebrators searching for more fun. And even though the patio they were standing on was currently otherwise unoccupied, Elila just didn't feel comfortable. After the incident that had occurred before, the heron wasn't certain that she wanted any other shark to overhear their words.

"Can we walk?" Elila asked gesturing towards the waiting woods to their side. The heron knew a shark's senses were sharp. But she really had no idea how much space she needed to achieve before her words would only fall on intended ears.

Pedryn only shrugged in response. She had no idea why it was that Elila wanted to walk off into a wooded thicket all alone. Staying at the Midali Hall would be much safer, for both of them.

The shark had no doubt of her abilities to singularly defend against a cobra. But she would rather not have to. Although she did enjoy solitary hunting, when it came to Elila she would rather error on the side of caution.

But it wasn't her physical safety that worried Pedryn. It was everything else. As she followed Elila out in the solitary darkness of the woods, she knew her cousin would literally lose her mind. Carielle didn't want her anywhere near Elila, certainly not unsupervised.

Though her cousin had far from admitted it, Pedryn knew that Carielle had her suspicions. Her cousin had seen the way that she stared at Elila. Carielle was worried that she was harboring some sort of inappropriate attraction to the heron. But the scariest thought for Pedryn was that her cousin was absolutely right.

And yet she wasn't merely attracted to Elila, though the heron was certainly beautiful. The small heron enraptured her. There was just something about Elila that made her very blood boil.

"Are we alone?" Elila asked the shark knowing that Pedryn's senses were surely more keen then her own.

Pedryn only nodded, momentarily thankful for the bright light of the moon. It would be much easier to spot movement in the distance. Not that the shark didn't have absolute faith in her night vision, she wanted to have the earliest warning when dealing with a cobra.

"Do you think that it's just some sort of weird coincidence that I crossed paths with the cobra? At first, I did. When I ran into her in the night club…I just thought the whole thing was a horrible accident." Elila said in a tired and fragile tone.

"But now you're not so sure?" Pedryn asked already having had the same exact thoughts.

"This just doesn't seem like a simple case of a cobra trying to score a venom high. She obviously followed me back to the Lodge. I just can't figure out how I swallowed the venom. How did she get to me? I was surrounded by jungle cats." Elila said feeling her body crawl with an all too familiar fear.

"Do you know her name?" Pedryn asked wondering if the cobra had the fortitude to tell Elila her true identity.

"She said her name was Licara…Licara from the Greenery Basin." Elila answered remembering all too clearly her sudden moment of clarity.

For Elila, there had been a horrific moment of lucidity. The evening had been going so well. She had had no idea the type of danger that she was in. But now, Elila realized that one ill-fated meeting with Licara seemed to have changed the entire course of her very life.

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"You know of her?" Elila asked easily seeing the recognition pass across the shark's features.

"I've heard the name. I've never met her though." Pedryn answered knowing Licara by reputation alone.

"What is it?" Elila demanded wanting to know more about the snake that threatened her very life.

Pedryn looked the heron over with a careful eye. There was much she could tell Elila. There was much that she had heard. But most of it was all rumors and fabricated lies.

Warriors had a habit of telling exaggerated stories of battles long since past. She had heard much of Licara. Pedryn had heard that the woman was everything from a savage murderer to a disloyal sentry.

It was common fact that the cobra in question had lost her posting in the tribal army. And it was also well known that the Ahloria tribe was currently without home. Pedryn really had no idea what any of that could possibly have to do with Elila. But she certainly wasn't going to speculate, not in front of the heron. Elila already had enough to worry about.

"She has a reputation for being blood thirsty. Although, I'm sure you're already aware of that." Pedryn answered glancing at Elila bluish skin.

As far as her medical training could tell, the heron was doing much better. Her skin was a much lighter shade of blue. And the girl seemed to be getting her strength back. But Pedryn didn't want to push things. She knew that Elila hadn't slept in nearly two days. She had every intention of getting her back to the Fluid for some much needed rest.

"Is it Thash? Does this have something to do with my alpha?" Elila asked in a small but honest voice.

And for a moment, Pedryn felt her blood run cold. This was the real reason Elila had dragged her away from the others. Thash was the primary target of unbridled rage from nearly every Midali on land. And it was a testament to Elila's diplomacy that she had managed to come this far without causing some sort of political incident.

The heron certainly couldn't have discussed the Fasara Alpha freely, not in front of the others. Pedryn remembered all too clearly the incident that had nearly taken place over the banquet. But thinking about it now, she felt a surge of pride well within her. Her tribe mates had handled Elila's presence very well.

Despite the heron's rather amicable disposition she was still the daughter of the their most hated enemy. And no one had said one ill thing towards the heron. In fact it seemed to Pedryn that everyone had done their best to make sure that Elila felt welcome, after the initial dust had settled of course.

"I am unsure, however it is possible. Thash has many enemies, as I am sure that you are well aware of. I once heard tales of some sort of bitter blood between Thash and the Ahloria Alpha. I think her name is Anzari. But no one has seen her in ages…not since the cobras lost the Greenery Basin." Pedryn explained trying her best not to frighten Elila.

But she knew that no matter how she explained the events the news would never come across in a pleasant manner. Such a thing was surely impossible. After all, Elila was trapped in a rather terrifying circumstance.

"I've never even heard the name. You think I would of…" Elila muttered letting her body softly fall to the ground below.

Pedryn could see how tired the heron was coming. She knew that it was well past time for Elila to rest and recover from her recent trauma. But tradition dictated that she stay, until the very end of the banquet. And although she trusted Carielle and Zeranna with the heron's safety, she wasn't certain that Elila was quite up for the long trip back to the Fluid.

"Your alpha discusses the affairs of the kingdom with you?" Pedryn gently prodded.

For some reason the shark really couldn't see Thash sitting down and explaining matters of politics to her young daughter. In fact, Pedryn had a hard time seeing any resemblance between them at all. And it wasn't just the physical differences that stood out.

Thash was cruel, without mercy, and continually hungry for wealth. No matter how many riches the tribal Alpha collected, it was never enough for the ruling jungle cat. She always wanted more. And Thash never seemed to care who got hurt in the process.

But Elila was soft, gentle, and kind. She was nice to everyone, even to those that had hurt her. And the more Pedryn knew of her, the more she wondered how it could ever be possible for Thash to have created someone as good-hearted as her daughter.

"No, my alpha would never speak to me of such things. Actually, my alpha rarely speaks to me at all." Elila muttered letting her voice betray a pain that she rarely liked to acknowledge.

Pedryn wasn't really sure what she was expected to say. If she didn't know better, she would think that they were having a real conversation. But the shark knew they couldn't do that. Despite the recently signed treaty, they were still very much enemies.

But even more then that, there were vast oceans of personal conflict between them. She was the last person that Elila should be speaking to. She was the last person that should be listening to the heron's tired words of honesty. And she was the very last person in the entire Kingdom that should be trying to help the heron. But despite all the reasons not to, Pedryn knew she would do whatever it took to keep the heron safe. Since she had taken so very much from Elila, she owed her no less.

"I meant it seems like I would have heard of Anzari while I was in the swamp. We get a lot of cobras traveling through there. I'm just surprised I never heard anything." Elila answered gently running her fingers through the blades of grass beneath her.

She supposed that on any other day this position might bother her. She was on the ground with barely enough strength to stay up right. And there was Pedryn, looming above like some sort of towering doom. But tonight, she had no fear. She was far too tired for such things. Besides, in a strange way she felt like she was almost connecting with the shark.

"Elila? Can I ask you something?" Pedryn asked in a softer voice then usual.

She wasn't certain what level of communication was acceptable between them. So far, Elila had initiated all of their discussion. And Pedryn certainly didn't want to intrude where her comments weren't wanted.

"Sure…" Elila muttered wondering what it was that was bothering the shark.

"What were you doing at that place? I saw you there dancing…you were alone. Did anyone know you were going to be there?" Pedryn asked trying desperately to keep the accusation from her tone.

But it was a difficult task for the shark. She firmly believed that if Elila's caretaker had only paid her more attention, none of this would have happened. The heron should never have been alone, left to wander the dark streets of the Gallion Village. It just wasn't safe.

And Elila, an unmarried woman surely had someone in the tribe that was supposed to look after her. Pedryn knew Thash well enough to know that the Alpha would have placed her daughter's care into someone's hands. And Pedryn was beginning to think that whoever that someone was bore the sole responsibility for nearly getting Elila killed.

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"I guess I was homesick." Elila answered knowing that her response was far from adequate.

"Homesick?" The shark asked staring down at the heron in utter disbelief.

"Yeah, for the swamp. I didn't know that I was in a cobra nest." Elila answered a bit ashamed by her own lack of perception.

Pedryn could hear the self-recrimination in her voice and knew that Elila was indeed ashamed. The girl felt solely responsible for everything that had happened. And the shark found herself wanting to somehow sooth the girl. She wanted to tell Elila that her birthright was anger. There would always be those who wished to hurt her. There was nothing that the heron could ever do to stop that. Thash was her alpha. And poor Elila had inherited a legacy of bloodshed.

"If it makes you feel better, I didn't know either. Carielle and I sat in that place for hours. We had no idea that we were surrounded by cobras." Pedryn sighed unsure as to what the girl needed to hear.

Despite all the violence looming between, there was another far more natural reason for Pedryn's discomfort. The shark knew all too well that speaking with women wasn't her strong suit. The Alpha shark preferred to stay only in the company of warriors. The fairer and gentler females of the tribe were a puzzling mystery to her.

It wasn't even that she was particularly shy, Pedryn just never knew what to say to them. Her conversations usually consisted of battle techniques and hunting maneauvars. She never knew what was appropriate discussion for a woman. And she certainly didn't know what to say to Elila.

"Was there someone who was supposed to be caring for you? I can't imagine Thash just let you come all the way out here to the Gallion on your own." Pedryn said hedging her voice with soft careful tones.

Since Elila was still unmarried it would only stand to reason that Thash would turn her daughter's care over to someone suitable. For the life of her, Pedryn couldn't figure out why Elila remained unattached. Someone in Elila's position should have been married long ago. The heron was several years over the normal age for union.

Although, Pedryn found it terribly ironic that she would find Elila's single status odd. Elila was only a few short years away from the normal age of tribal marriage. Pedryn was over a decade from that requirement.

Before, her alpha had been relentless in her attempts to find Pedryn an acceptable mate. But all that had ended in a terrible bloody error. She was too violent for a woman. She hurt them, even when she didn't mean to. And despite her best efforts Pedryn had yet to learn how to control her own strength.

Even if she could control the steel strength in her body, Pedryn doubted that the blood lust would ever leave her. It was her greatest assest on the field of battle. But in the bedroom, it had nearly destroyed a young woman's life. And Pedryn wouldn't risk hurting anyone else. The price was just too high.

Pedryn knew that one day she would inherit the Midali throne. And at one time, it was a thought that had delighted her. But now, it was a responsibility she didn't want and a position she didn't deserve. After Elila, no matter what the true circumstance, she didn't deserve such a position of respect and power.

But her alpha refused to hear her pleas. No one in the tribe really knew what happened on the water. No one knew the kind of monster that she had been forced to turn into. And so their silence had to be kept. The very tribe depended on it.

And there was a distant sadness to all of it that touched Pedryn when the nights were dark and quiet. It was a sorrow the cut even deeper then her violent acts towards Elila. She knew that without question, she would always be alone. Her nights would forever be filled with the icy echoes of her past sins and crimes. Pedryn knew that guilt would be her only true companion. And at times, it was a revelation she made her weep.

"Uhm, my alpha sent me here with a warrior from our tribe named Kellis." Elila finally answered letting her voice convey a deep sense of dissaproval.

"Kellis…she's an accomplished warrior." Pedryn commented very familiar with her enemy's premier champion.

"Is she your intended?" Pedryn asked wondering if her question wasn't stepping over some sort of silent line between them.

"No!" Elila gasped out rather quickly.

Pedryn was instantly curious. Despite everything that Elila had been through and every reason the heron had to hate her, Pedryn had never once heard the girl use a sharp tone. But discussing Kellis apparently upset her. And Pedryn couldn't help but wonder why.

"Do you mind if I ask who then?" Pedryn asked keeping her arms firmly behind locked behind her back.

This conversation with Elila was making her nervous. Her stomach was fluttering and her heart was hammering in her chest. She didn't understand her own anxiety, and in fact, she didn't want to. Pedryn didn't want to admit that the mere thought of Elila getting married was driving her insane. Her possessive streak towards Elila was certainly cause for alarm.

Pedryn knew that she had no claim on the small frail girl. But more then anything she wanted to. And despite all the many reasons why such a union could never happened, the shark found herself entertaining the delecious fantasy.

"Who what?" Elila asked leaning back onto the grass. She let her body lie prone on the ground. She found herself having to squint to even see the taller woman standing above.

"Who…who you are going to marry?" Pedryn asked finally deciding to take a seat. She put several healthy arm lengths between her body and Elila's. And she was a bit shocked and surprised to find that Elila didn't seem to mind their new proximity.

"As far as I know, no one." Elila answered wishing that for once she could have a different answer to that question.

Everyone she met eventually got around to the subject of marriage. And in many ways, Elila supposed that it was only natural. According to most tribes in the Kingdom, a woman of her age should be married.

But in the swamp, her single status was certainly status quo. Marriage was a fleeting entity out in the boggy marshes of Black Moon. Most people simply chose not to bother with such a tired and old tradition. And those who did, often left their union 'open' for distractions and other playthings.

And now, Elila was in the rather traditional world of the jungle cats. She was expected to play by their rules. But she didn't want to. She didn't grow up with them. She wasn't raised by their values.

More then anything, she was tired of explaining her circumstance to others. Even those in her tribe were a bit startled by her unwed status. Thash had disapointed them again. But Elila knew the truth. This time, it wasn't her alpha's fault. It was her own. The heron knew that she simply wasn't acceptable, not by jungle cat standards.

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And the very last person that she wanted to discuss this with was Pedryn. Marriage just seemed like a terribly foreign concept to discuss with one's former attacker. But as the shark sat there, mere inches from her body Elila had difficult time seeing Pedryn as she once had.

The shark was far from anything that she remembered. If anything, Pedryn had shown no signs of anything but kindness, courtesy, and concern. And the more Elila knew of her, the more suspicious the heron became.

And it wasn't just Pedryn. Carielle wasn't at all the monster that Yamina thought she was. Elila knew what had happened to her that night on the water. She and Yamina both still carried the deep emotional scars of terrorized victims.

But Pedryn and Carielle weren't fulfilling their roles as violent offenders. And Elila knew that she wasn't seeing some sort of facade or masquerade for political benefit. They weren't trying to be charming or win her over with a false display of caddy kindness.

If anything, the heron had seen genuine remorse in everything that they did. Of course, neither of them had said anything to her. And Elila wouldn't want them to. She wasn't ready to talk about that night.

But there was genuine sorrow in the way that they moved around her. Their apologies were silent but still very loud to Elila's perceptive ears. She could hear it in the careful way that Carielle spoke to her. She could see it when Pedryn thought her stare had gone unnoticed. More then that, she could feel it.

Even though Pedryn's body was a considerable distance from her own, Elila could practically feel her breath. There was something there in the air between them. It was thick, heavy, and extremely coarse. And without question Elila knew that the silent unspoken substance between them was Pedryn's own burdensome guilt.

"What about you? Are you intended to someone?" Elila asked wondering if the tall blonde shark had found someone to spend eternity with.

But the shark only snorted at her question. It was quite clear that Pedryn found her question humorous to say the least. And Elila really couldn't understand why. After all given her position in the tribe and her prowess as a warrior, Elila had a hard time believing that women weren't waiting in line to get a chance with her.

"No, I'm not. I don't think that I ever will marry." Pedryn answered wondering why the heron had even bothered to ask.

There was a part of the shark's mind that was demanding her silence. Pedryn hated to discuss such personal matters and she knew that Elila was the last person she should be speaking to at all. Besides, Pedryn knew that they had much more important matters to speak of. There was still a very pressing problem with a rogue cobra. And not to mention the small fact that Elila's tribe probably thought that the heron was dead.

That was something that neither Pedryn nor Carielle had voiced to Elila. The girl had enough on her mind without having to deal with that as well. The last time another Fasara tribe mate had seen Elila; she had been in the apparent bloodthirsty clutches of Carielle. Pedryn knew that most likely, they all assumed Elila's death had been fast, furious, and bloody.

"Really?" Elila asked genuinely surprised. She supposed that Pedryn's rather silent nature dictated her life. It was probable that the shark simply didn't want the company of a woman.

"Yes, I prefer a solitary existence." Pedryn said choosing her words carefully.

She certainly couldn't tell the heron the truth. She couldn't tell Elila that she was desperately lonely and in wanton need of a soft touch. And she certainly couldn't tell Elila, that more then anything she wanted to fill her nights with the heron's soft words.

"Oh…my parents are really disappointed in me. How about yours?" Elila asked finding it odd that she and Pedryn should have anything in common.

The shark laughed, surprised that Elila had been so forthright and honest. Even though Pedryn didn't doubt Elila's sincerity, she had a hard time believing it. She couldn't believe that the small courageous heron could be a disappointment to anyone.

"Yes, I believe my alpha is deeply disappointed with me." Pedryn answered with complete honesty. She owed the heron no less.

Elila didn't know quite what to say to continue their dialogue. She didn't mind the silence that settled between them. It was comfortable enough.

"So, what about Kellis? I've heard that she's unmarried. Are your parents negotiating a marriage contract with her?" Pedryn asked unable to let the question rest.

The shark just couldn't help it. She wanted to know what the heron's future held. Truly, she did want Elila to be happy. She felt that the heron deserved it, especially after everything that she had been through. But despite everything, Pedryn just couldn't seem to let her go.

"I'm sure that they would like to. But, I don't think that marriage to Kellis is exactly in the cards." Elila answered unable to keep the hurt and pain out of her voice.

Pedryn was silent as she absorbed the heron's words. It was quite clear that Elila was unhappy with this warrior. And Pedryn found herself wishing that she had met Kellis. She would love to know what it was that Elila found so very troubling.

"Oh? Why is that?" Pedryn asked hoping that Elila would elaborate.

The heron looked over confused to find that the shark's eyes seemed soft and vulnerable. Elila had dreamt of those eyes. But in her nightmares, they were always icy and the color of burnt steel. Yet tonight they seemed gentle, like the rolling waves of calm sea.

"My parents really like Kellis. She is the premier warrior of the tribe. If she married me it would certainly help Thash solidify the family's royal position in the tribe." Elila answered thinking that even to Pedryn, it must be rather obvious why her parents were interested in acquiring Kellis as family.

"No. I meant why don't you think such a union would ever occur?" Pedryn asked softly.

Elila watched as the shark hugged her long legs to her chest. Pedryn looked small then, almost fragile. It was clear that the conversation was upsetting Pedryn in some way. Although Elila had no idea why. After all, she was the one with the bleak future.

"Have you ever met Kellis?" Elila asked quite certain that the golden warrior and the Alpha shark had in fact, never crossed paths.

Pedryn didn't answer. She only shook her head allowing her yellow cream locks to fall freely around her shoulders. And that's when the most horrifying thought occurred to the young heron. Under the bright light of the moon, with her features soft and her strength invisible, Pedryn actually seemed to be a thing of beauty.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 20

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It was a devastating revelation for the young girl. Up until this point, Pedryn had only ever been fuel for her nightmares. Her features had always seemed harsh, cruel and terrifying.

But Elila clasped her hand over her mouth stopping the strangled sob that threatened to escape. Some part of her couldn't help but think it terribly weak that she should see Pedryn as anything other then a monster. She couldn't let her guard down. She just couldn't experience that kind of hurt, not again. Elila didn't think that she would have the strength to survive.

"I'm sorry." Pedryn whispered rushing to stand up and flee the heron's side.

It was quite clear that her personal questions had terribly upset the heron. She had heard Elila's gasp for breath. And she had seen the look of horror cross her face.

Truly, she hadn't meant to cause the girl anguish. But Pedryn knew that her intentions were meaningless. Her actions had obviously hurt the girl and now she would hurry to give Elila her privacy.

"No, it's all right. I'm fine." Elila answered quickly trying to shake the thoughts from her mind. She didn't want to cause any additional awkwardness, not with Pedryn.

Unfortunately, she needed the shark's help. Elila knew that she certainly couldn't deal with Licara on her own. And she had no idea if her tribe mates would be of any assistance. She had to think of her own safety. And that meant doing her best to forge some sort of amicable bond with the Midali.

"It's just a uncomfortable subject." Elila said softly.

And her statement wasn't exactly a lie. The subject of marriage was uncomfortable and often times painful to her. This time however, it wasn't what had upset her.

It was the image of Pedryn in a whole new light that had caused her body to lurch in shock. It was the thought that on some level, she could actually appreciate the shark's grace and loveliness. And it was the knowledge that in a small way, she found Pedryn beautiful.

"I understand. I am sorry." Pedryn said again kneeling on the ground a safe distance from the heron.

"It's all right. It's just that Kellis isn't exactly the commitment kind. Let's just say that she's very…popular." Elila said wondering if Pedryn had already heard the rumors of Kellis' sexual prowess.

The heron knew that warriors would exchange such stories. For some unknown reason to the heron, sexual promiscuity had been directly linked to the battle. The more women a warrior bedded, the better warrior they were often believed to be. Elila of course didn't believe such an absurd notion. But she knew that Kellis did. The golden warrior had done her very best to sleep with nearly every woman in the village.

"I've heard stories. But I've never believed them." Pedryn responded quietly.

The things she could tell Elila would shock the girl right into heart failure. And Pedryn wasn't about to open her mouth. Freely discussing marriage was one thing. But she certainly wasn't about to discuss anything remotely sexual with the heron.

"Did Zeranna tell you about our award's ceremony?" Elila asked wondering if the Alpha shark knew of all that had gone on.

Pedryn was silent for a moment as she thought of Elila's question. Zeranna had in deed, told her of some very strange occurrences at the Fasara ceremony. But Pedryn wasn't really certain that they should be discussing them. The award's ceremony was a sacred tribal tradition. And given the bad blood between their tribes, Pedryn wasn't certain that Thash would appreciate an outsider knowing of their ways.

"She mentioned some strange things." Pedryn stated trying to remain diplomatic in her response.

"She told you about Zelsi, didn't she? Zeranna was shocked to see that a concubine had attended the ceremony." Elila answered wondering if the impression that she had got from Zeranna was actually valid.

From Zeranna's abject shock, Elila had supposed that the Midali didn't allow concubines to attend their sacred tribal events. In fact, the heron hadn't seen a single concubine traveling with the Midali. Normally, the heron wouldn't trust her own opinion.

But she was getting a rather inside look at the normally reclusive tribe. She had stayed at the Fluid. She had witnessed their award's ceremony. She had even dined with them at their tribal banquet. And not once had Elila seen a paid woman. And Elila knew that she would have spotted one a mile away. Living in the swamp had allowed her to become perceptive in such ways.

"She did mention that. It did seem rather… odd." Pedryn answered once again, trying to keep her tone and words neutral.

"The concubine that Zeranna saw is one of Kellis' women. She pays for her service." Elila added wondering why she was suddenly in such a talkative mood.

She knew that she shouldn't be discussing these things, especially with Pedryn. But it had been so long since she had had anyone to talk to. Normally, she would tell these things to Yamina. But she was growing tired of hearing her friend's continual cheers for the warrior. She was tired of hearing other people defend Kellis' actions. And now, Elila had the distinct impression that Pedryn would never even think to justify the sometimes careless actions of the golden warrior.

"I see." Pedryn said with a tone that spoke of grave reproach.

And Elila smiled as she realized that it was quite clear that Pedryn most certainly disapproved. And for a moment, the heron wondered why it mattered to her that Pedryn would agree with her. She shouldn't care what the shark's opinion was.

Pedryn looked the heron over, easily understanding why Elila wasn't eager to marry the golden warrior. In her tribe, if a warrior paid for sex they were seen as someone without honor. Concubines or paid companions simply weren't tolerated within the tribe.

But it was clear that that was certainly not the case with the Fasara. Pedryn had of course heard the rather bawdy and vulgar tales. But she had chosen not to believe them. Warriors could certainly tell creative lies when they were properly drunk on the juice of a rollen berry.

Of course, Pedryn knew that some of them were in fact based in reality. Elila had just confirmed as much. But Pedryn had had the rather unfortunate pleasure of running into several of Thash's paid women. The shark wondered if Elila knew of her alpha's sexual proclivities. Pedryn found herself hoping that the girl was wonderfully ignorant. She couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to live under the same roof with someone as woefully demented as Thash.

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"So where does that leave you?" Pedryn asked thinking that surely Thash must have someone else in mind to marry her only daughter.

"Nowhere… I guess." Elila answered conveying her own loneliness and depression.

Those were familiar feelings that the shark could easily identify with. Pedryn too, felt all alone and firmly entrenched in her own sorrow. It was so very odd to have the heron mirror those feelings back to her.

To her, Elila deserved happiness and joy. To her, the heron was beautiful and uncharacteristically strong. The shark just couldn't believe that not a single jungle cat had noticed the treasure abounding within the tiny frail heron.

"What about you? Is there someone you're partial to?" Pedryn asked trying to keep her voice calm and smooth.

She didn't want Elila to guess at how much the heron's answer meant to her. Pedryn certainly didn't want the heron to ever discover how deep her feelings ran. They were improper, inappropriate and certainly unwelcome. Pedryn knew that Elila could never know of the secret affection that she harbored.

The heron didn't answer. She only let out a long exasperated sigh. She turned to stare at the shark with bright green eyes flashing under the light of the moon. Pedryn met her gaze surprised to find the open feeling swirling in the heron's stare. There was no anger or hatred there. There wasn't even a single sign of accusation. It was just Elila showing her strength, character, and apparently limitless kindness.

And Pedryn thought that her heart might just might break in two. She didn't deserve such displays of courtesy. She didn't deserve Elila's friendship or amicable camaraderie. At times, the shark wasn't even sure that she deserved to breathe.

"There you two are. I've been looking everywhere." Carielle's friendly voice called out from behind.

They both turned surprised to find their quiet moment interrupted by the presence of another. Pedryn quickly stood and backed away. Her very behavior was one of guilt and shame. And her cousin was quickly growing suspicious.

"What's going on?" Carielle asked worried that Pedryn had somehow managed to force the heron into the dark wooded night.

"Nothing…we were just talking." Elila answered unable to mistake the deep concern she heard in Carielle's voice.

It was quite clear that Pedryn's cousin was worried about them. But Elila couldn't seem to do much to put her mind at ease. She supposed it was only natural to assume the worst when she and Pedryn had gone off alone.

Carielle looked her cousin over pleased to see that Pedryn appeared calm. She had feared the absolute worst when she realized that both Pedryn and Elila were missing from the banquet. At first, she had been concerned with the rather pressing matter of the truth. She was worried that Pedryn had spirited the girl off to some isolated corner to tell the heron the real tale of the night on the water.

But then even more disastrous thoughts came crashing into her mind. What if Pedryn had allowed her obvious desire for the girl to cloud her better judgment? Carielle had always completely trusted her cousin. But when it came to Elila, she could never be certain that Pedryn would remain in control. There was just something about the heron that sent Pedryn into a full heated bloodlust.

"Ah…the banquet is all wrapped up. We're all heading back to the Fluid now." Carielle commented wondering what it was that the shark and heron had found to discuss.

"It is??? I didn't realize we had been out here that long." Pedryn stated truly shocked to hear that time had just slipped away from her.

As soon as her body had sunk into the warm grass of the forest, she hadn't given the banquet another thought. Her company had been far too charming for such things. Pedryn knew that she would much rather speak with Elila then host a tribal ceremony. Between the two, it wasn't even a fair contest.

"Well then, I suppose we should be on our way." Pedryn commented realizing that the three of them would obviously be lagging behind the rest of the tribe.

"Can you help me up?" Elila asked Carielle, extending one long slim arm.

Nervously, the shark glanced at Pedryn before responding. It wasn't an odd request. But coming from Elila it sent shivers down her spine. Both sharks stared at each like the world had just frozen around them. Finally, Carielle looked down to see that the heron was obviously waiting for a response.

"Of course…" Carielle mumbled carefully pulling the heron to her feet.

Silently, the heron marveled at the raw strength concealed in the shark's cartilage body. Briefly, she wondered exactly how much force either shark could put into a hit. She suspected that they could easily move a few tons around with little exerted effort.

Mentally, the heron mused that it must be hard for them to deal with other less athletic tribes. It was quite obvious that Carielle possessed the raw strength to easily rip her arm right off her body. But the shark had been careful, gentle, and perhaps even a bit tender.

Following the two Midali, Elila fell into an easy step. It was clear that they wanted to speak alone. And at the moment, the heron didn't mind.

Elila had much to think about. Despite her rather pressing problems involving a cobra and the rumors of her unfounded demise, the heron found her thoughts traveling in a much different direction. She had spent enough time with the Midali to know that something was definitely amiss. Carielle and Pedryn were hiding something from her, their very body language conveyed as much.

But it was more then their probable deception that was keeping the heron's mind in a full throttle. It was the very fact that at the moment, she was walking all alone through a dark woods with two violent offenders. She should be petrified. Elila knew that her every instinct should be telling her to run in the very opposite direction.

Yet, she wasn't feeling compelled to do anything of the kind. She felt comfortable in their presence. In fact, since her horrifying encounter with Licara, she had never felt safer.

And Elila had every intention of finding out why. She shouldn't feel this way, not around Carielle and Pedryn. Her lack of fear was to say the least, disconcerting. And the heron resolved herself to the fact that it was time to discover what it was that the two sharks were hiding.

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They had returned to the Fluid after a long hike and a steady silence. Pedryn and Carielle had of course spoke amongst themselves but their voices had always been hushed and low. Elila knew that they were frightened she would overhear their words.

But there slight distance was fine with the heron. She had much to think of. And following behind their slow moving silhouettes gave her plenty of time to focus on the real problems filling her mind.

Once Elila had heard a sharp snap off in the distance. And her body had frozen in place. It reminded her of before. It hadn't been long; there was no real reason why she would be removed from the pain.

Licara had hunted her through the forest. She had run at a blinding rate. She had pushed her frail heron's body to its limit. And there were several times when Elila began to question her own ability to survive.

But somehow she had made it through. She had reached Midali territory, even as her body had fallen unconscious. And now here she was, trekking right back through the same woods that she had run through only one night before.

Of course, the sharks moving ahead had heard the noise as well. But with their enhanced senses they knew it was only rat hybrid moving off in the distance. It was nothing to be concerned of. So they kept moving, unaware that the heron had frozen some place behind.

"CARIELLE?" Elila's voice screamed out in a sharp panic.

For a second, the heron couldn't even move. She knew that the snake preferred to hunt a moving target. And at any moment, she expected to see Licara rise up from the thick foliage at her side.

The sharks spun around hearing the panic in her voice. They both scanned the surrounding area content that they were in fact still very much safe. But there was something wrong with Elila. And most graciously, they both rushed back to her side.

"What is it?" Pedryn asked in a low whisper finally reaching the heron. It had been an easy distance for them to traverse. And under the sole light of the moon, they had moved so very fast that for an instant, the heron thought that their bodies had actually taken flight.

"I heard a noise. Over there…" Elila whispered trying to stop the panic from entering her voice.

Carielle turned to stare, relieved to find that it was only a lone rat traveling off in through the woods. But instantly, she felt a bit insensitive. It was quite obvious that Elila didn't possess the vision that they did. They should have been more aware of her sensory disadvantage.

"It's all right. It's just a rat." Carielle explained to the great relief of the heron.

After that, the sharks had remained closer to their charge. They slowed their pace and the three walked the rest of the way to the water together. But for Elila, reaching the Fluid couldn't have happened soon enough. She was exhausted, reaching levels of fatigue that she never even knew were possible. Being hunted and later attacked had left her body with a dire need for rest. The young heron was beginning to think that she could sleep for an undisturbed century.

"Ah, home again…" Elila commented dryly once the towering form of the Fluid became visible. She realized that for the second time in a row, she would be spending the night in the company of sharks.

Neither shark responded to her statement. They knew it wasn't meant in a conversational manner. And truthfully neither of them had anything important or poignant to impart at this juncture. The situation was odd for them as well. Elila was the daughter of their tribe's greatest enemy. And now, they were being made to play her caretakers for the second time.

Feeling the burden of all the tribal conflict that was potentially underway, Carielle and Pedryn maintained a rather heavy silence as they walked through the dry entrance of the Fluid. It was a strange feeling for them. The Fluid was their second home. And they were unused to using its dry accommodations.

Had this been any other night, they would have dived into the ocean long ago. Swimming was always preferable to walking. And the water, well that was eternally more exciting then the land.

"Shall I take Elila back to the same room?" Carielle asked casually. She didn't want to give her cousin a chance to play hostess. She didn't want Pedryn alone with the heron. There was just too much at stake.

Pedryn only nodded, aware that Elila looked on the verge of collapsing. The heron had been through so much. And the shark knew there just wasn't much that they could do for her.

"Good night. I'll see you tomorrow. We can discuss the cobra then." Pedryn said bidding the heron a farewell.

But if Elila even heard her she gave no acknowledgement of it. She only followed Carielle down the waiting hall to her left. With every step she took Elila felt like her body was simply going to give out.

And yet, they finally made it to the room that had recently become so familiar. Elila immediately headed over to the silk sheets that had rested against her body only hours before. She let her body sink into the mattress and instantly she felt her tension drain.

Every inch of her body ached. She wasn't really sure why. The heron was beginning to wonder if the venom might not have some long-term effects.

But there was something still bothering her. There were these thoughts lingering in her mind that just wouldn't allow her to quiet. Her body might be exhausted. But Elila knew her emotions were wound far too tight to achieve a peaceful slumber.

So, she listened as Carielle wandered about the room making minor adjustments. She heard the sound of curtains being closed. And there was the long scraping noise of a hard cover being placed a top the liquid dream chamber in the floor.

"Do you need anything?" Carielle asked the still form of the girl on the bed. She was cautious not to approach the mattress. She knew that far too much had passed between them to ever allow such an intimate level of proximity.

"I feel so tired, but not. My whole body aches. I feel like I can barely breathe." Elila muttered wondering if she might need more anti-venom.

"It's the adrenaline. Now that it is gone from your body. You're suffering withdrawal." Carielle answered all too aware of the long-term effects of the hunt.

"Well, you'll be safe here. If you need anything someone is always out in the lobby, for one reason or another." Carielle said moving towards the door.

She was glad to finally be rid of the heron, if only for a few hours. She needed time to rest and focus. Elila's mere presence made her body feel trapped by guilt. And as sensations went, it was far from pleasant or even tolerable.

"Carielle, wait!" Elila snapped finally managing the strength and energy to push her body upright.

The shark froze in the doorway aware that there was something about the heron that had never been present before. There was a timbre in her voice that resonated like steel. Her eyes were hard and determined. That's when the shark felt her heart sink into her stomach. Elila was ready to talk. And gods help her, Carielle wanted to tell her everything.

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"I want to know." Elila whispered barely making sense of her thoughts as her body and mind wavered somewhere between utter fatigue and delirious wake.

"Know?" Carielle asked, rather nervously clearing her throat.

She didn't need the heron to put her question into words. She already knew what Elila wanted to know. It was the only bond they really shared. And for the first time, the heron very clearly wanted to test the tether.

"What happened?" Elila asked becoming more awake and alert by the moment.

The adrenaline was back, pouring into her body preparing her for a fight that had already ended so very long ago. The battle was over but the war was still very much alive. Of course their respective tribes played at being nice, diplomatic and even cordial.

But everyone knew the truth. They were all just waiting for the perfect opportunity to give into their native bloodlust. The Fasara would always rival the Midali. They would always fight to the bitter end for the land that both tribes claimed. Too much time, blood, and life had been spent for a mere treaty to resolve the issues as old as bitter anger itself.

And here Elila was asking all the wrong questions. She was asking for the only thing that could break the tentative bond of peace. And for no other reason then her own drowning guilt, Carielle wanted to tell her. She wanted to give up the one secret that stood between them. The things that she knew, the things that had been kept hidden were the only things that stood between war and peace.

Yet, no matter how much she wanted to silence the pain that dwelled in her very own heart, Carielle knew she couldn't sacrifice the lives of others to assuage her own guilt. She would have to live with this burden. They all would.

Even though, more then anything, she wanted to lift the memory and the pain right from Elila's very mind. The heron didn't deserve this. Carielle was a warrior. She had always been told that one day she might be called upon to make a sacrifice for the good of the tribe. But Carielle had never realized that that sacrifice would be her honor, her heart, or the rest of her very soul.

But Elila, Yamina, the others…they weren't trained for this. They weren't called on to defend their tribe, their land, the lives of the others. They weren't warriors. They had no unearthly strength. It wasn't the blood of the hunt that poured through their veins. They were daughters, sisters, and perhaps even one day mothers.

And Carielle couldn't resolve the sheer humiliation and loaded burden of guilt that she had hurt a female, a defenseless woman. It wasn't right, not even by the loose fitting moral standards of war. And she knew that the heron had every right to demand answers.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Carielle whispered in a rushed tone that left her panic unhidden and bold.

"Yes, you do. That night that we were kidnapped. Your tribe took us away. I'm not sure where it was exactly. The ride over was a bit hurried. I imagine that we were someplace in the Wetlands. But I don't really remember that much." Elila said, allowing her mind to recall all those sensations and memories that she had kept hidden for far too long.

"We shouldn't speak of this." Carielle said trying her best to sound commanding and perhaps even a bit threatening.

But Elila wasn't about to allow such an easy retreat. She had been around Carielle enough to know what she was capable of. And deception wasn't one of the shark's many skills. The heron wanted to know what she was hiding. She wanted to know what they were all hiding. And she had no intention of letting Carielle leave before she had her answers.

"I know. There's a lot at stake, for both of our tribes. But I'm not asking because I'm looking to start conflict. I'm not even asking as the daughter of the tribal Alpha. I'm asking as someone who was hurt. I'm asking as a woman who's suffered through endless nightmares and the constant companionship of terror. I'm only asking why…." Elila asked daring to walk up to the shark.

The heron had tried her best to sound brave. But she couldn't stop the welling of tears from filling her eyes. It was an emotionally charged issue, for both of them. And Elila was utterly exhausted from her forced efforts to hide her pain.

Thash made her. Thash covered the incident up and made her suffering disappear with the power of her own political agenda. But out here in the Gallion Village, Elila saw no reason to put on a charade. She was alone with one of the aggressors and between them; the heron truly saw no reason for falseness. If she couldn't be brutally honest with the Midali then there really was no quarter to be had.

"Elila, I can't…" Carielle began turning to face the heron.

The shark had surrendered to her own tears quite some time ago. It was a strange experience to cry in front of a woman. It was a strange thing to cry at all.

Carielle had felt nothing but pain. Since that night on the water, her anguish had been unquenchable. But through it all she had never cried, not once…

Yet now, her tears were unstoppable and desperate. They weren't the quiet tears of a strong and courageous woman. They weren't like Elila's. Hers were large and constant, drenching her face in the salty waters of her own misery. She wasn't just crying. She was weeping for all that she had done and all that she had lost. It was an impassioned sound, the kind of a creature that had lost something infinitely valuable. Hers was a cry to shatter the silence, the haunting echo that had filled both tribes since that fateful night. And Elila was ready to listen to every single word.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" Those were the only words that Carielle was even able to mutter.

Her misery welled within her until it shattered. What little remained of her composure broke and she fell to her knees. It was there that she knelt before the heron wrapping the girl in an embrace far too tight for the frail bones of a bird.

This time however, Elila didn't mind. She allowed Carielle to squeeze the very air from her body. The shark was lost and in desperate need of comfort. And Elila didn't mind being the thing that she clung to.

In truth, Elila needed to hear the echo of her pain. But coming from Carielle it sounded something terrible, like a caged monster awaiting a rampage. But for the first time in along while, Elila felt at peace.

None of it had been at all what she perceived. The heron could so easily tell that now. No one that wept with the voracity and sheer undeniable gut wrenching heartache that had befallen Carielle was evil. No one who could cry so easily and unstoppably was cold or unfeeling.

Elila knew that she had been right about them. Something else had taken place that night on the water. It had been hidden, nothing more then a concealed undercurrent in the deep. But now the heron knew it was there, she had glimpsed their secret. And Elila had no intention of letting it slip back beneath the surface. In time, she would know all that they did.

But for now, she was content to let her hands wander through the shark's silken hair. She was able to stand and allow the outpour of pain and remorse. Elila offered what small comfort she could. She wasn't in the business of hurt or even anger. She only wanted the truth. And the heron knew that she could survive anything, as long as she knew that eventually she would have peace.

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"I'm so sorry…" Those were the only words that Carielle had uttered for what seemed like hours.

And perhaps most disturbing was that Yamina wasn't present to hear them. To Elila the words were a sweet utterance of comfort. But she wasn't the one that Carielle had wronged. She wasn't the one that had suffered at her hands.

In a way, Elila knew that this confession must seem hollow to the shark. Only Yamina could give the shark the forgiveness she obviously needed. And the heron knew that at the moment, Yamina's heart held only room for anger, rage and fear. Forgiveness would only be born on a day in the far distant future.

But in their shared moments of languid sorrow and heartfelt anguish, the heron had realized something of utmost importance. She was not only capable of forgiving, but at the moment, there was nothing else that Elila wanted more. She needed to forgive Pedryn, for her own peace of mind.

And the heron knew that the only way for her to do that would be to understand. Elila needed to know that she had been right about the shark. She needed to know that Pedryn wasn't some cold unfeeling monster. She needed to know the reason why.

Right now, she wanted Carielle to tell her. She needed to hear the truth. So slowly, she allowed the shark to pull away. It was quite clear that Carielle was embarrassed by her complete lack of composure and utter hysterics. But now wasn't time to think of such things like social behavior and manners. Now was the time for honesty, and unfortunately Elila knew that that meant pain for them both.

"It wasn't supposed to… I…it never was…" Carielle whimpered under her breath as she searched the room for the nearby sink.

Elila only watched as the shark bathed her face and calmed her nerves. But the heron's discerning eye could still see the pain and hysteria boldly marking the shark's features. Carielle, a true warrior in every respect, had been reduced to the hysterics of a child by the sheer impact of Elila's question.

"What is it? What are you talking about?" Elila asked, finally hoping to get some resolution to the nightmare that had become her life.

But Carielle only turned to face her. The heron could easily see the resolve filling the shark's liquid eyes and instantly Elila knew that she was going to have a fight on her hands. Carielle was clearly battling within herself. The heron could see that the shark's guilt and remorse were telling her to confess.

And yet, something was stopping the words from leaving Carielle's mouth. Something was there that couldn't be forgotten or defeated. There was something dreadful that Carielle needed desperately to hide.

"We aren't supposed to talk about what happened. You know that." Carielle said with a bleary gaze and a frightened form.

The heron seemed to consider her words as she moved closer to the shark's wavering form. There was something about her proximity that weakened the mighty warrior. There was something about her closeness that bothered Carielle and the heron knew she had to use it to her advantage.

Carefully she circled the shark, reminding herself of a masquerading predator. Her movements clearly bothered Carielle. It only took seconds before the shark was clutching her face clear distraught.

But at the moment, the heron could only muse about what it was that truly bothered the shark. Obviously, Elila knew all too well that her frail and wholly weaker body posed no threat to Carielle's sturdier form. And yet, the shark was undoubtedly frightened by something.

"Do I remind you of her? Do I remind of Yamina?" Elila asked wondering if somewhere beneath her layers of humid swamp blood lied the scent of a jungle cat.

The olfactory sense of a shark is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. If anyone could detect the smallest semblance of her jungle cat heritage it would be a Midali. And while aesthetically, Elila knew her body bore no reminder of her Fasara parentage. Physically, the blood of the jungle did still run through her veins.

"Don't do that! Don't!!!" Carielle snapped becoming both angry and terrified as she stormed across the room.

Logically, Elila knew that she should send the shark on her way. Carielle was obviously upset and moving on instinct. Sharks could easily give into the frenzy. Anger, arousal, fear, hunger; these were all things that bled into one desire for their watery kind. And Elila knew that she shouldn't push Carielle into an emotionally charged state. The heron clearly remembered all too well what would happen to her if Carielle were to give into the natural bloodlust of her kind.

But Elila couldn't let the matter go. She wanted an explanation. And the heron was determined to get one from Carielle, even if it meant risking her own safety.

"Don't do what?" Elila prodded following the shark back across the room.

As she moved passed the dream chamber, Elila tried not to look down. The very sight of the watery depth taunted her. The heron knew her fear of water would someday have to be confronted, but now at her moment of anguish, that terror would have to be soundly pushed aside.

"DON'T …say her name." Carielle screamed before letting her body slump to the floor. Elila watched as the fight and anger drained from her form.

"I don't want to hear it. I can't…" Carielle mumbled clutching her long legs to the chest of her body.

In some way, the whole scenario struck the heron as ironic. Carielle was rocking herself back and forth like an infant child. And it was a position intimately familiar to Elila. The heron had seen Yamina do it on more then one sad and desperate occasion.

The heron knew that she was taking a risk. She knew that it could even prove fatal. But at the moment, all thoughts for her own safety had somehow drifted away. All Elila cared about was finding the truth.

Slowly, she moved closer to the shark trying her best not to startle Carielle with her movements. Elila sunk to the floor allowing only the tiniest space to exist between her body and the shark's. The heron had just committed the ultimate crime of nature. She had willingly placed herself within death's striking distance.

"Carielle, what happened that night? Please? You have to tell me…" Elila whispered moving even closer to the shark's shaking form.

Carefully, the heron parted the long strands of hair that covered the shark's features. Elila stared into the shark's panicked eyes and knew that Carielle could never have meant to do such a thing. The heron could read her pain in every liquid tear that fell from her watery eyes.

And so timidly, Elila reached out placing a gentle hand on the shark's cold and quivering cheek. It would be so easy for the shark to turn into her touch. It would be so easy for Carielle to open her mouth and rip the beating artery right from her wrist. And as their eyes met, they both knew what could happen between them. But somewhere between her confused mind and her bundle of nervous emotions, Elila knew the truth. Carielle had no interest in harming her.

"It was never supposed to happen like that. We were just going to hold you as collateral to make Thash give into our demands sooner. It wasn't supposed to happen. We didn't know. You have to believe me Elila, we never meant for that to happen!" Carielle slurred in an obvious rush of heated feelings.

But for a long moment, the heron had no words to say. She was stunned by the sincerity of Carielle's admission. They hadn't meant to hurt her. For some reason, that small piece of information felt like a long awaited treasure. And for just a moment, Elila chose to remain silent and savor the words that she had waited so very long to hear.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 21

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The room seemed to grow silent; in fact the world seemed to stop as Elila patiently waited for the words to explain away the torture of her soul. But they never came. Carielle only stared at her with the eyes of a warrior who had everything to loose and nothing to gain.

"Carielle, please…you have to tell me. Explain this to me." Elila said waving her arm around the room as if to illustrate the strange circumstance that had become their acquaintance.

The shark didn't answer. She crossed the room in long strides trying her best to ignore her every instinct to run. It would be so easy to leave Elila and this terrible conversation behind. She could find Pedryn. Her cousin would know what to do. Pedryn could handle Elila.

But the thought itself was enough to make her skin crawl. She had seen the way that Pedryn stared at Elila. And even though the situation seemed impossible and nearly unthinkable, Carielle was nearly certain that she had in fact seen the heron return her cousin's rather interested stare.

And yet she knew that she had to be imagining things. Surely Elila hated Pedryn. The heron must loathe her with every fiber of her being.

But Carielle innately knew that nothing could be further from the truth. She was beginning to wonder if Elila was even capable of harboring such dark feelings. Even in the worst of times the heron always seemed to be at her most compassionate.

Over the few short days of their intimate acquaintance Carielle had found herself in the strange position of admiring Elila's strength, courage, and kindness. And that's why it made this silence so much harder. She couldn't explain the night on the water. She had taken a vow before her tribal Alpha and the gods themselves never to reveal the terrible secret that they had all promised to hide.

And Carielle didn't want to break her vow. At one time, her word had meant everything to her. It was the same with all warriors. After all, a warrior that lied had no honor, no respect, and no worth on or off the battlefield.

At one time, she had enjoyed all those wonderful things. But that had been before that awful night. It had been before she lost every single little thing that she had once held dear. She had nothing left, nothing inside and surely nothing of value. The one thing that she still treasured was all that mattered to ensure the very peace of her tribe. The one and only small thing that she still guarded was her sacred vow to her tribal Alpha.

She had promised to never reveal to a living soul what had taken place that night on the water. But now after much heartbreak, guilt, remorse and utter devastation Elila was asking for the one thing that Carielle couldn't give. But the shark knew that to the heron, it was the only thing that mattered.

"Carielle, I don't know what more I can say to make you hear me? Do you need to hear of my suffering? Because I have. Do you need to hear me lash out in screams and anger? Because I've done that as well. Or do you need to see me cry? Because there aren't buckets large enough to hold the tears I've shed. This thing, this terrible horrible action has nearly destroyed me. There were nights that I went without sleep and days when I couldn't wake. I thought that my torment would never end." Elila explained knowing that her voice was betraying a weakness and a hindered desire that she truly didn't want to reveal.

"Do you know that my parents forbid me to even speak of it? Once I was returned to the tribe I was simply patched up and sent on my way. My alpha has never once even offered me a word of kindness or a simple touch of sympathy. The only words that Thash ever spoke to me on the matter were 'it never happened.' Do you know what that's like? Do you have any idea what it's like to be the victim of such a horrible crime and to not be able to tell a soul?" Elila asked feeling the return of a familiar and unwelcome angry sadness.

She approached the shark daring Carielle to look her in the eyes. She wanted the shark to see the suffering that her silence was denying. She wanted Carielle to know that there was some pain that never ever seemed to dwindle or fade.

"Of course, there was Yamina. You did give me the suffering of my best friend to empathize with." Elila said giving voice to the anger that guarded her heart.

She saw Carielle wince at her words like she had struck the shark with an iron fist. And for a second, Elila wanted to apologize. It wasn't like her to speak so carelessly. She knew how terrible the sting of words could be.

And she tried to live her life with courtesy and respect. But there were some situations were her manners simply failed her. And to come this close to knowing the cause of her torment was far too bittersweet to walk away empty handed.

"Over time, the memories faded. To be honest with you I never really had that much to work with in the first place. You see, Pedryn held me under the water for so very long I began to drown. You know what I remember more then anything? The feeling of the water burning my lungs. Of course, you would have no idea what that's like, would you? Your lungs can breath in the water. You can take drink after drink after drink and feel perfectly fine. It must be nice to be so…versatile." Elila said coming dangerously close to losing her temper completely.

Sometimes, the very existence of the shark hybrid troubled her to no end. She could see why the ancient humans had created them. After all, they were nature's perfect predator.

If only the humans had been satisfied with simple evolution. But they had to play around with genomes and genetic enhancements until they created a biped that could kill both in and out of the water. It was little comfort to Elila that the sharks were one of the very first hybrids to turn on the humans. But in a way, it was poetic justice.

But now, even centuries after the Great War and the demise of humanity their science lived on. And it was a cold hard truth that every day, she was surrounded by perfectly designed biological killing machines. What place did a mere heron have among them? Her kind had not been designed in a laboratory or created with some grand plan in mind. The heron splice was a result of a tragic accident. It seemed somehow frightening and sad to know that her species had never been planned or wanted. Even the rat hybrids had been designed with a careful purpose in mind.

"Please stop… Don't ask me to tell you. I gave my word that I wouldn't." Carielle begged and pleaded, as the heron seemed to slip further and further away in the frothy depths of rage.

"Don't you think that I deserve to know? After everything I've been through you can't even give me the reason behind my suffering? Carielle, please? I only want to sleep through the night." Elila said backing away from the darker emotions swirling through her tiny beating heart. She wasn't an angry person. But this situation was getting more frustrating by the second.

"Elila, you deserve far more then the simple truth. You deserve more then we can ever give you. What you're looking for isn't here." Carielle said thinking that only the comfort of her own kind could give the heron the true peace that she so richly deserved. If she thought for an instance that Pedryn would allow it, Carielle would have volunteered to take the heron back to the Fasara Village herself.

"But if you ask me, I will tell you. But please know that though I cannot begin to match my suffering to your own, I have suffered. I have lost everything that once meant anything to me. At times, I feel like I'm only a small sliver of the person that I once was." Carielle said speaking her feelings through giant gulps of a heated panic.

"But if you really want this…If you really want this one last thing from me. I'll tell you." Carielle said laying the decision out before the heron like a golden gauntlet.

Slowly, Elila closed her eyes. And for the first time in many long nights there was no pain or tortured memories threatening to overwhelm her. There was only the raspy breath of Carielle as she awaited her decision. And the wonderfully blissful knowledge that for once, she was firmly in control of her destiny.

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The room was quiet and dark. The air was filled with a deep sadness. There was grief that the young heron simply couldn't put into words.

And to be honest, she didn't have to. There was no one left to hear her pain. There was no one left to answer her questions. Carielle had left in a fit of utter hysteria taking the truth with her as the door slammed in her wake.

Elila had let her go. There was nothing left to be said or discussed. And she couldn't bring herself to take from Carielle the one and only thing that she still held precious.

And though she needed to know the truth, Elila also knew there were other ways to go about finding her answers. She had never seen anyone quite as distraught as the shark warrior had been. Carielle had easily lost all sense of composure, reason, and sanity.

By talking to the shark and by questioning her actions Elila had opened a doorway to insurmountable pain. And the heron had watched as the mighty shark crumbled under the weight of her own shame. Elila clearly remembered every excruciating sensation of her body being raped. And because of her laser sharp memory, she simply couldn't rape Carielle's soul.

And the heron knew that that was exactly what she would have been doing. There was no question in her mind that Carielle was holding onto the world by a mere thread. And Elila firmly resolved that she would not be the one to push Carielle over the edge.

There were other ways to find the answers to her questions. Now that she knew there was truth to be found all she had to do was look. And even though she tried to remain firmly resolved and steadfast, Elila knew this was no easy task laid out before her.

She wasn't being foolish. Elila knew perfectly well that whatever really happened was of no secret to her parents. Thash and Tezara had to know the truth. And they had hidden it from her and all the other victims of that horrible night.

The thought made her sick inside as she struggled to make sense of it all. The only reason why her parents would have hidden such a thing was if they stood to lose something. And that was like a sharp lancing wound right through the very pit of her stomach. What could they possibly lose that would be more valuable then their daughter's very sanity?

With a desperate fatigue rapidly descending on her form, Elila shut her eyes and allowed the sleep to come for her. She was safe there with the sharks. She could give into her needs and rest.

That was all she could for now anyways. But in the wake of the day, Elila knew that things would change, not just for her but also for her entire tribe. Because for the first time in her life, the young heron had no intention of backing down from her parents.

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To her, it seemed like death. She had gone off after her run in with Elila wanting only to find some sort of solace or peace. But there was none to be had, not on land anyways.

So Carielle took to the sea as the blood in her veins demanded. It was so easy to leave the Fluid without notice. The entire structure was built to encapsulate easy ocean access.

And at the time that was exactly what she had needed; easy, gentle and hidden access to the waters of her youth. Carielle knew she couldn't bear to run into her cousin. Pedryn would take one look at her distorted and saddened features and know without question what had transpired. She just couldn't let Pedryn see.

There was so much she would have to explain. There was so much to be said. But ever since the slamming of Elila's door, no words had come from her throat. It was like her voice had simply died in an effort to hide the last remaining piece of truth her heart contained.

Her body had moved into a state of hysterical shock and her mind had grown numb in agony. During all the time that had passed, she had never once let herself consider the feelings of her victim. She had tried to rationalize away her actions. She had even tried to make excuses to her very own soul.

In the end, it had all been nothing more then a thin veil of denial. Because when she had seen Elila...when she had truly witnessed her pain she realized for the first time that she was responsible. She wasn't trying to be literal in her definition of the events that had transpired. After all, it hadn't been the heron's body that she had used to slate her bloodlust and quaking need.

But it might just as well have been. She was no less responsible for that pain and suffering. In a way, she knew that Elila had managed to separate them in her mind. It was obvious that the heron saw her as less of threat and far easier to reach out to.

The evidence of such a fact had easily been laid out before her. It was she that Elila had come to searching for the truth. The heron had turned to her for help. And as much as she might wish that Elila could punish her for her horrible crimes, she knew that vengeance didn't dwell within the soft heron's heart. The girl didn't see her as an enemy.

And in the heat of the moment and the whirlwind tears, Carielle had seen the strangest truth of all. Elila didn't even hate her own attacker. Oh, the shark had easily seen the signs of sadness and suffering cross the heron's features and vibrant displays of grief.

But she had never seen the desire for revenge. There had been no anger or hate. There had only been a need for justice and truth. And as much as she would like to assuage the suffering of one small heron, in the end, Carielle had simply walked away.

She wasn't proud of what happened. But the shark had left the decision in the hands of the heron. And Elila for whatever reason had chosen to give her peace.

Carielle was well aware of the punishment she would have suffered for daring to give the heron the honesty she was so intent on finding. Even if Elila never whispered her transgression to another living soul, the shark would have confessed to her crime. The Alpha herself had ordered them all to remain steadfast and silent. The truth of that night was never to be revealed to anyone.

The punishment for violating a direct order from the tribal Alpha was lavish and sometimes fatal. And Carielle was under no delusion that her familial bond would assure her any type of safety or privilege. The Midali stuck to their tribal code with an iron will.

But she would have given it. She would have given Elila the truth if only the heron had only asked. And yet for whatever reason, Elila let her go. She had given her a soft word and a gentle touch and sent the shark on her way. Elila was exhausted and needed to rest.

And yet even as she scurried from the room, Carielle had seen the wheels starting to turn. Elila, though surely deathly tired, was already contemplating some sort of plan. The shark was nearly sure of it. There had been something focused and daring in those emerald green swamp eyes that hadn't been there before. And if she herself hadn't been quite so hysterical, Carielle might have remained behind to talk the heron out of doing something foolish.

But she had fled in the heat of the moment, needing only to break away. So she swam with the speed and grace that every member of her tribe possessed. She swam far from the Fluid hoping to avoid all contact with others.

She wanted to loose herself in the black murky waters of the Gallion Ocean. She wanted to let her body become one with the water. She needed the peace and tranquility that a shark could only ever find under the rolling depths of a timeless sea.

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"Where is Carielle?" Pedryn demanded hurriedly pushing open the door to the heron's room.

Jolted by the sudden intrusion and the rather intimidating form of the intruder, Elila hurriedly jumped from her bed. It took her several long moments to focus once more to her surroundings. As she looked at the meandering light floating in through the window she realized she could have only been asleep a mere matter of moments.

"I don't know. Why? Is something wrong?" Elila asked clutching her arms against her body in a motion born of reflex and surprise.

The shark quieted her anger as she saw the heron struggling to find some sort of composure in the wake of her rather surreptitious entrance. She hadn't meant to frighten Elila. She just didn't want to think that the heron was taking advantage of their hospitality.

The situation that the cobra had placed their tribes in was ripe for a long bloody conflict. And she had been doing absolutely everything in her power to prevent that from happening. Including the assistance and shelter of their greatest enemy's daughter.

But Zeranna had come to her with dire news and a worried stare. She had seen Carielle leave the heron's room in a myriad of tears and hysteria. Zeranna was desperately concerned for the shark's well being. The poor ignorant Midali had no idea what was taking place right in front of her very eyes. She only knew that Carielle seemed desperate and inconsolable.

And those were two traits that no warrior should ever publicly display. If the rest of the tribe were to ever see Carielle so weak or helpless, the results could be disastrous. The Midali honored a long tradition of only following the strong. Such an emotional display could destroy Carielle's position in the tribe. And Pedryn wasn't about to allow her cousin to be shunned from the Wetlands of her home, even for Elila.

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So after a cursory search of the Fluid, she had come to see Elila. Carielle had not been located. And Pedryn was growing more concerned by the moment. It wasn't like her cousin to disappear. It wasn't like her cousin to cry.

"Zeranna said she saw Carielle leave this room. She was...upset." Pedryn responded trying to choose her words carefully.

"She was. But she's not here now." Elila answered finding some sort of personal calm.

Slowly, she returned to the bed gently lowering her nervous body to its side. Even though she now knew that not everything was ever as it truly seemed, she still had a knee-jerk reaction of fear where Pedryn was concerned. And no matter what the truth was, Elila supposed that it was only natural given what she had been through. And it certainly didn't help that the shark burst through her bedroom door like a hungry predator in search of prey.

"Do you have any idea where she went to?" Pedryn asked trying to curb her annoyance.

She wondered what it was that Elila had done to upset her cousin so vehemently. They had been nothing but kind and cordial to the heron. They had taken her in when a murderous cobra was stalking her very existence.

And the shark couldn't help but wonder why Elila would choose to attack Carielle. Surely, she must have said or done something to unravel all of Carielle's emotional tethers. She was the one that Elila should have tried to punish, not Carielle. The whole thing just seemed so uncharacteristic of the normally warm heron.

And Pedryn couldn't believe that she had been so wrong. Elila had seemed to be the perfect picture of kindness and courtesy. The alpha shark just couldn't believe that it had all been an act of some kind. It just didn't seem like Elila would be capable of that kind of deception.

"She's probably in the water. Don't you think? Isn't that where your kind goes to be...alone?" Elila answered realizing that for the first time since fate had conspired to cross their paths, Pedryn was angry. She had never seen the shark so filled with emotion. And it frightened her.

"What happened?" Pedryn asked lacing her arms across the ample weight of her breasts. The motion was raw and powerful. And Elila knew better then to resist her question.

"I only wanted to talk to her. I didn't upset her on purpose, if that's what your thinking." Elila answered wishing that for just once, the room would stop spinning. Her fatigue combined with her fear had left her head filled with a daze of lightning fast confusion. And she found herself gripping the nearest pillow in a gesture of support.

"You wanted to talk to her. What did you want to talk to her about, Elila?" Pedryn asked walking further into the room and slamming the door in her wake.

She made no secret of her anger or the very threat of her presence. The shark had sealed them in a small locked room away from all other eyes or assistance. And in some way, Elila felt like she was being tested.

Of course, it was only a test held within the bounds of her own mind and courage. But that in no way made it less real or important. It all came down to her instincts and the shadowy words of Carielle.

In this moment, she could choose to be frightened of Pedryn. The threat that the alpha shark posed was quite obvious and certainly real. But she could also choose to listen to the soft words of her heart. She truly suspected that Pedryn was of no real menace to her. Carielle's carefully veiled words indicated as much.

"What do you think?" Elila snapped knowing that the shark wasn't foolish.

Her mind called out for her caution. Regardless of Pedryn's intentions the heron knew that the shark was still a predator. And they had both suffered through long and trying days. Perhaps now wasn't the best time to test the shark's patience.

"It's finally come to that, has it?" Pedryn snarled feeling like her entire world was ripe for explosion.

She had been so sure of Elila. She had been nearly convinced that the girl was a creature of light and charity. Kindness and compassion seemed to radiate from her every pore. Pedryn had let herself believe for a just moment, that in Elila's eyes, she wasn't a monster.

But it had all been nothing more then make believe. Elila had taken the first opportunity presented to her to unravel the careful cords of courtesy that the Midali had reached out to her. She was the daughter of her their greatest tribal enemy. They didn't owe her anything. And yet Pedryn had gone above and beyond what was expected of her to keep the heron safe and healthy.

Feeling betrayed and distraught the shark wandered over to the nearest darkened corner. Her kind always preferred the shadows. The hunt became so much easier in the darkness of the night.

Now, she had caused irreversible damage to both tribes. Pedryn knew that her fatal flaw had been her rather foolish decision not to contact the tribal alpha. Carielle had begged her to call home. But she had flatly refused. And now, that mistake could be her own undoing. Because Elila could certainly set off a whirlwind of trouble.

The heron had been hunted on several different occasions. She had been out wandering the sin filled side of the Gallion Village all on her own. And for whatever reason, she had ended up with the Midali every single time she left her own tribe.

It wasn't the order of events that concerned Pedryn. It was the interpretation. Everything that had happened to Elila thus far could so easily be blamed on the sharks. She could practically see Thash now convincing the tribe that the sharks had hired some rogue cobra to hunt down Elila. It could all be easily manipulated. And Thash could use it against them. It could be just what the Fasara need to reclaim the battlefield and throw down the gauntlet.

"Yes, it's come to that." Elila angrily retorted wondering why it was that Pedryn should take such personal offense to her conversation with the other shark.

"Did you really think it wouldn't?" The heron asked wandering dangerously close to the shark's body.

But Pedryn didn't grace her with a verbal response. Her blue eyes seemed to fill with an icy anger as she stared at the heron. It was all becoming so clear to her now. Elila really did have a lot of Thash in her after all.

"I don't see why you're so upset. I only wanted to know what happened." Elila added crossing her arms across her chest trying desperately to put a lid on her simmering anger. She knew that flaring tempers would get them nowhere at this point. At this juncture, understanding was all that was needed.

"Elila, I think you're already quite well aware of everything that took place." Pedryn snarled showing her first true indication of coldness. But Elila didn't let such a comment deter her. More then anything the heron could sense how worried the shark was for her missing her cousin.

"That's not what I meant. I asked Carielle what REALLY happened. I only wanted to know the truth." Elila answered trying to calm the boiling emotions of the other shark.

"The truth? What are talking about?" Pedryn asked wondering if in a fit of hysteria Carielle had leaked their most guarded secret.

Such a thing would not bode well with the Midali Alpha. And if such a transgression had transpired, Pedryn could certainly understand her cousin's rather sudden disappearance. Running far and fleeing fast would be the only way to escape a certain punishment upon returning to the Wetlands.

"I'm not stupid Pedryn. I saw what was going on." Elila answered growing quite comfortable in the rather sudden expression of her anger and hostility.

The sad thing was that she wasn't even really angry with Pedryn, not at the moment anyways. She was simply frustrated with the entire situation. And her lack of sleep certainly wasn't helping to fuel her better judgment. In fact, she was beginning to think that this was quite possibly the worst time for her to confront Pedryn.

"I never said you stupid. But I don't know what you are talking about. Saw what?" Pedryn questioned in a softer and far calmer voice. She was beginning to believe that in the end, she had been right about Elila all along.

"You and Carielle..." Elila muttered turning away from the shark to catch her breath and find her resolve. This certainly wasn't the easiest of conversations and Pedryn's short temper certainly wasn't helping.

"You aren't at all what I remember." Elila answered finally turning to face the shark.

"I've seen you two together. And I've been here at the Fluid. I was even at your tribal banquet. You aren't the animal I thought you were. Neither of you are what I ever believed you to be." Elila said reciting her observations to a very stunned and pleased shark.

"And then I realized something. You two are hiding something from me. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. It's this palpable mystery that lives in the air every time we speak." Elila added wanting to explain the events that had taken place.

"So, I asked Carielle. For whatever reason, I thought it might be a bit odd for us to have this conversation." Elila said adding the last part with a lower more sardonic whisper.

The shark looked at the heron with an expression somewhat akin to muted undeniable joy. Elila didn't need them to tell her what had really happened. She didn't need them to spoon-feed her all their dirty tribal secrets. She had figured it out all on her own.

And Pedryn had never been quite so relieved. It was all finally coming together. Her hopes didn't seem quite so distant now.

"What did Carielle tell you?" Pedryn asked in a low soft whisper. The shark waited with a near shattering heart for all the words that she knew Elila might say. If Carielle had broken the code Pedryn knew she would have no choice but to do everything in her power to hide her cousin from the blinding fury of her alpha's wrath.

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"She didn't tell me, if that' s what your worried about. I know about the oath." Elila answered hoping that perhaps Pedryn might say something more on the matter. But the shark only remained silent not wanting to tread out any further on the already thin ice.

"She left it up to me. She said that she would tell me if I really wanted to know. But she told me what would happen if she confessed to me. So I told her to go. I don't need her to tell me what happened. There are other ways to find the truth..." Elila explained sounding far surer of herself then she actually felt.

"I see..." Pedryn mulled over the information presented to her. Elila was far more astute then she had ever realized.

But if Carielle didn't tell the heron what truly happened the alpha shark was quite certain that Elila would never know. There were only a select few who knew the true secrets of what happened that night on the water. And every single one of them had vowed to protect the truth with their very lives.

And for some reason that realization saddened her. They had all come so far. Elila was nearing the brink of knowing what her parents had tried so desperately to hide.

Yet now, it would appear that it had all been for nothing. As much as Pedryn would like to tell the heron what really happened, she knew that she couldn't. Pedryn's first duty had to be to her tribe. Regardless, of how much her instincts were telling her to do quite the opposite.

"I didn't mean to upset Carielle, honestly." Elila answered sitting down on the side of her bed in a somewhat defeated manner.

"I think I caught simply caught her off guard. And well...we've all had a long couple of days." The heron added trying to make some sort of excuse for Carielle's sudden emotional outburst.

"Well, I suppose I should find her..." Pedryn answered turning to leave letting her body move in a reluctant manner.

She didn't want to go anywhere. Her place was there with Elila. It was time to tell the girl. It was time to tell her everything. But she couldn't. She knew that she couldn't. So with a careful but slow step she made her way back out the door.

Elila waited until she heard the sound of Pedryn's escape before she let go of a very deep breath. The incident had been disconcerting and ripe for disaster. But somehow they managed to muddle through.

Exhausted the heron collapsed onto the bed behind with only one thought circling her mind. She had to know what her parents and everyone else was hiding from her. But she had no idea how to go about finding a truth that so many people had obviously conspired to hide.

And then the thought hit her like a white lightning bolt sent down from a very black sky. There was one place in the kingdom where secrets are bought and sold to the highest bidder. There no one would think twice of her searching for answers. No one would even give her a second look because she naturally belonged there.

Closing her eyes, Elila brought up all the necessary memories to mind. She would need to move fast and anonymously to get there before her parents found out. She knew without question that neither Thash nor Tezara would ever consent to allow her travel.

But she wasn't interested in their permission. At the moment, all Elila cared about was finding the reason for her pain and suffering. And it seemed like the best place to start would be back at home.

It wouldn't be an easy task to get all the way out to Black Moon Swamp. The journey was a long one, especially from the Gallion Village. But Elila knew she couldn't risk returning to the Fasara homeland with the others. Thash kept far too close an eye on her when she was there with the jungle cats.

She suspected that her alpha was always worried that she would attempt to return to her home. And Elila knew that Thash did have good reason to be concerned. She had run away to the comfort and familiarity of the boggy marshes on more then one occasion.

The heron couldn't help it. The humid air and murky waters of the swamp simply called out to her. Gravitating to Black Moon was as natural to her as reaching for the very air that she breathed.

But getting to the swamp would certainly be no easy task. And once she was there, Elila knew she would still have to make every effort to conceal her presence. Even though she missed her grandparents and cousin very deeply, she just couldn't risk contacting them.

Thash would assume she had run away to be with her swamp family. That was the very first place they would look for her. And Elila couldn't risk being found, not until she had the answers that she needed.

The swamp was large enough to get easily lost in. Even if her grandparents joined in the effort to help locate her, Elila knew that the odds were in her favor that she could avoid them. They would contact her friends there. They would search the places that she used to frequent.

But the heron knew the key to avoiding capture was to simply stay away from all that was familiar. Of course in the swamp, that might be easier said then done. She was intimately acquainted with every single building, neighborhood, and marsh in all of Black Moon.

It wasn't like her pseudo-home in the Fasara Village. Elila never strayed very far from Yamina's company or her parent's watchful eye. But the swamp was another story entirely.

There she could come and go as she pleased. She didn't have a curfew or an ever-present escort. And she never had to shy away from any place or function that caught her interest. There she wasn't the daughter of a much-feared tribal alpha. There she simply Elila just another average heron.

And Elila found her mouth watering at the sheer bliss of it all. There was simply something extraordinary about being surrounded by her own kind. Of course, given the sinful nature of the swamp's economy the marshes were always filled with creatures from every single realm of the kingdom.

But that's what Elila missed so very much about her home. She needed the ever present sense of acceptance. And she craved the general feeling of anything and everything goes.

The jungle cats live a much different and stringent existence. In the Fasara Village everyone looks exactly the same, except of course for Elila. But they never have visitors from other tribes. Outsiders aren't allowed to enter the private realm of the jungle cats.

And that's just what Elila felt like when she was there amongst the tall, golden skinned yellow-eyed creatures, a total and complete outsider. She longed for the company of her own kind. But more then that, she needed to lose the stigma of her identity if only for a little while.

Even if she never found what she was looking for Elila realized how very much she needed this trip. Thash and Tezara hadn't let her return to the swamp in what seemed like forever. Even after her attack when she was so emotionally distraught they refused to allow her the company of her fellow marsh dwellers.

But now when Elila remembered their reactions to the event that had nearly destroyed her world, she was seeing everything as if for the first time. They had gone out of their way to keep her in their sights. They had adamantly refused to allow her to leave the Fasara Village.

This trip to the Gallion was the first time she had been out of their close proximity in what seemed like ages. And this little escape had only been allowed because of Kellis and their desire to see their daughter wed the tribe's premier warrior. They had been desperate to keep her out of Black Moon. And even more so to keep the truth from coming out.

Looking back now Elila realized that she should never have let Thash order her around in such a manner. She may be the tribal alpha's daughter but she was still a person with feelings to consider. And neither of her parents had taken her well-being into account for a very long time.

Elila had always believed that she was keeping her silence for the sake of tribal harmony. But now, she wasn't so sure. The sharks didn't seem quite so violent and uncooperative as Thash would have everyone believe. And the heron couldn't help but wonder if her parents played a terrible part in the war that had nearly covered the entire continent in blood.

She would never do anything to cause a war or even spark discord between the tribes. But Elila was beginning to wonder if wasn't time for her to live up to her own tribal duties. One day, her spouse would inherit the Fasara throne.

And Elila had every intention of making sure that her parents weren't up to something horribly treacherous. After all, whatever mess they left behind would become her own to clean up in a mere matter of years. Elila wasn't willing to suffer for Thash's aggression or Tezara's hunger for power.

A strange yet powerful feeling rolled over her form as Elila realized that she was about to do something new, exciting and terribly dangerous. Making her way to the swamp all on her own was ill advised at best. She wasn't stupid. She knew that the cobra could catch up to her at any given moment.

But Elila was through suffering and simply surviving. It was time to live again and let go of the past. And yet to do that, she had to find out what really happened. So with a firm resolve and a even firmer strength of will, Elila promised herself that in a few short days she would once again be on the familiar land of Black Moon Swamp.

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She swam for a great distance. It was so easy for her to get out far beyond the breaking of the waves. She liked the waters of a deeper sea. There was something calming about their blackness and their mystery.

Tonight, she was blissfully alone. All the other creatures seemed to be cutting her quite a wide berth. Not that that in itself was necessarily something odd or something to question.

Since the dawn of time her kind's very presence has signified power, strength, and an insatiable predatory hunger. All the other creatures of the ocean would turn and flee as soon as the larger mass of nature's oldest killing machine was felt in the water's current. For millennia, they had ruled the sea.

And now, in the waking torment of pain and sharp stabbing guilt Carielle couldn't help but wonder if perhaps the dissidents were right. Maybe it was time to give up the pretense of living on land and return to the waters of their birth. Since leaving the ocean for a dual existence it seemed like nothing but tragedy had befallen the entire tribe.

Carielle was beginning to think that it had all been for nothing. The Midali had left the sea in an attempt to claim a larger sphere of power within the Animal Kingdom. Living a solely liquid life was certainly not without its drawbacks. It was rare thing that their liquid needs were ever met without great effort by the Royal Court.

For centuries they had been left out of all the most important decisions simply because they were a water tribe. No one respected their territory or their claim to certain areas of the sea. But they survived and tolerated the existence of the land dwellers, if only to maintain their own sense of anonymity.

But their willingness to confine themselves to the rolling waters of the ocean came abruptly to a halt on the very day that Thash finally ascended the Fasara throne. It was on that day that the jungle cats began a new way of life. Deciding to error on the side of economics and efficiency, Thash illegally disregarded the laws of the kingdom and proceeded to dump years of accumulated waste right into Midali waters.

Since the Animal Kingdom began its rule of the planet environmental laws were always upheld with the strictest of standards. They were hybrids with the blood of nature running through their veins. They didn't suffer the same dissociation from the earth that the humans seemed to.

Every tribe spanning the globe took great pride in restoring the beauty of the planet's surface. The Kazanti Tribe of the northern white forest, a hybrid wolf tribe, took great care in restoring the splendor of the towering trees that had once been plundered for their wood.

The Nephries Tribe had spent many long decades and obscene sums of monetary rescources on perfecting the cleanlines of the small stretch of hot triangulated ocean water they called home. Carielle had never been to Nephries territory. She couldn't go even if she wanted to see their harmonious waters for herself. The Nephries, a dolphin tribe, still didn't trust the presence of a shark in their waters. And on many different levels, Carielle couldn't blame them.

And then of course there were the Spanadore. Carielle had been to their territory on more then occasion. Leave it to a hybrid crab tribe to create the most amazing stretch of beach to ever exist on the entire planet. To this day there's not a person in the kingdom that doesn't marvel at the silky white sand and crystal blue sea. But it truly seemed like every tribe made a decided effort to restore the natural beauty of the planet. Even Elila's own rather eclectic home of Black Moon Swamp had gone to great lengths to restore the purity of their bogs and marshes. .

But because Thash wanted nothing more then to cut some financial corners the entire continent went to war. Of course, Thash had her excused to cover up the events that truly transpired. When the kingdom sent down an arbitrator Thash spun one tall tale after another in a desperate attempt to avoid a royal reprimand.

First, she claimed that the sharks had begun a bit of profit making of their own. She claimed that they set up a block to prevent their tribe from reaching the proper waste management facility. Thash even made some outrageous claim that the sharks demanded some sort of payment before they would even allow the Fasara to pass.

Yet the arbitrator knew such claim was nothing but utter fancy. Everyone knew that the Midali were one of the wealthiest tribes in the entire kingdom. They had no reason to panhandle a few tattered jungle cats.

In the beginning, it seemed like it was going to be so easy to attain justice. They only wanted the waste removed and their water once again returned to its normal state. But Thash refused to cooperate. And when the arbitrator made a second trip, the jungle cat truly pulled out all the stops.

It was this newest aggressive tactic on Thash's part that eventually led to war. Not only did the mighty tribal Fasara Alpha refuse to discontinue her illegal waste dumping, but also she added a special ingredient to the trash that wasn't discovered until far too late.

Over a period of several long months Thash had been poisoning their waters. The leaking of biochemical agents into their current had caused widespread terminal disease and illness. But the worst possible news came when the kingdom refused to get involved.

The royal court said that their claims were unjust and unsupported. No one on the planet had access to those kinds of chemicals. The Royal Court absolutely refused to believe that any of the human's science could have survived. After all, it had been centuries since a human had walked the earth.

But the Midali knew that the terrible illness that was sweeping through their tribe was no accident or congenital defect as the kingdom would have them believe. Thash had found some way to attack them on a cellular level. And so, they went to war rising up onto the land to fulfill their natural role as the perfect predator.

To this day, Carielle wasn't sure what Thash had hoped to gain by poisoning their water. It was possible that the Fasara Alpha believed the chemical strong enough to kill the entire tribe. But if so, Thash had terribly miscalculated.

Enough of them survived to wage a mighty war. And when they fought they were twice as fierce as even their breed normally allowed. During those days of battle, the bloodlust was strong within them. It had to be. Their tribe mates were dying all around them.

She let the water carry her at will, gently rising and falling under the pale moonlight. The waters were very calm tonight. For a moment, Carielle wondered if the water would reject her. Inside her body was a raging storm of crashing guilt. She felt too caustic to lie within the bonds of such calm and soothing waters.

And the only reason she felt this horrible wrenching pain was because of one small heron. Elila had truly shattered the illusion of control she had grown accustomed to. And now, as she rode the water's current Carielle couldn't imagine one single way to make the pain stop.

Of course, she couldn't blame Elila for causing her such distress. The heron had only wanted to know the truth and on some level the shark had recognize the supreme unfairness of the situation. She had been one of the aggressors. Elila had clearly been a victim. And both she and Elila desperately wanted to come together in sort of understanding and mutual compassion.

But they couldn't. Even though they were the ones affected. Even though they were the ones that had suffered.

Their tribes wouldn't let them. Carielle had vowed to never tell the truth of what really happened. And it was obvious that Elila had also been sworn to silence.

And yet the heron had confronted her. Now with a calmer mind and distraught heart, Carielle was beginning to wonder how Thash would react to such an occurrence. The Fasara Alpha would certainly be quite unhappy that her daughter had chosen to have a rather intimate and quite possibly explosive conversation with a decorated Midali warrior.

Of course, there was also the small fact that Elila had spent a great deal of time with the Midali tribe as a whole. Carielle was absolutely certain that Thash would buckle at the very concept. The shark couldn't help but wince when she realized that Elila's chaperone was going to have a lot of explaining to do once the tribe returned to the Fasara Village.

Although, Carielle knew from reputation alone that Thash could be quite difficult on her daughter. It was possible that Elila herself would be blamed for the whole unfortunate incident with the cobra. She felt her body fill with tension at the very thought. It was quite clear to her and every other shark in the tribe that Elila was a distant cry from her alpha.

But Carielle also realized that someday, Elila's mate would rule the Fasara tribe. Elila was the only one who stood to inherit the throne. And the shark realized that knowing Thash's rather ambitious nature the mighty jungle cat probably already had someone handpicked to marry her daughter. Carielle couldn't help but let her mind wander through all the possibilities. Because whoever married Elila was sure to be the next mortal threat to the very existence of the entire Midali tribe.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 22

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"I'll be going soon." Elila called out as she entered the room. The shark didn't turn to acknowledge her entrance. But both of them knew that Pedryn's sole focus was on the wandering heron.

The shark hadn't slept much. Much of last night had been spent in a desperate and futile attempt to locate Carielle. After the Fluid and all its surrounding waters had been thoroughly searched the alpha shark was beginning to think that Elila was right.

Carielle didn't want to be found. The heron had guessed that the shark had taken to the deeper waters of the Gallion Ocean searching for some kind of solace beneath its darkened waves. And since Pedryn could find no evidence to the contrary she was beginning to think that Carielle was in fact, enjoying the waters of the deep.

And this distance from her cousin was maddening. Pedryn certainly wasn't one to need her hand held or to join herself to the first familial hip that passed her by. But this was an extreme situation. Elila had learned much from Carielle. And now Pedryn had no idea how to even begin to handle the situation.

It was time for the heron to take her leave. The afternoon sun was already beginning to set. And the heron was surely missed by her tribe mates.

"Did you sleep well?" Pedryn asked not bothering to turn.

She didn't need to face Elila to see what her other senses had already told her. It had all been in the heron's voice. Elila sounded calm, collected, and rested. Her footsteps had been soft and even. And even now in the presence of nature's oldest living predator, her heartbeat was strong and steady.

"Yes, thank you." Elila answered politely. She noticed that Pedryn seemed to be gripping the banister before her with an ironclad grasp. It seemed that at any moment she could rip the whole thing right off the wall.

"Still no word from Carielle?" Elila asked daring to walk a bit closer to her natural enemy.

Pedryn's entire body seemed to tense at the somewhat innocuous question. Elila had been the last person to speak with Carielle. And despite all of her best intentions to the contrary, Pedryn had to admit that she was growing worried.

Slowly, Elila approached the shark choosing to stand a safe distance off to her right. The heron was close but not painfully so. But to the shark it seemed like Elila was practically sitting atop her.

Pedryn froze as she caught a rather overwhelming fragrance as the girl walked by. Elila had recently bathed and the girl's skin was subtly perfumed. The shark found the aroma intoxicating. There was something wholly delicious about the scent of mountain flowers resting atop the skin of sweet heron blood.

"You know, I don't think I ever realized the Fluid contained this many floors." The heron idled looking down onto the spectacular view below.

They had to be resting nearly seventy feet high above the breaking waves. And the complete glass exterior walls of the structure were affording a breathtaking view of the setting sun. Its hues were a bright orange and pink, so vivid and brilliant that Elila imagined she had never before seen such perfect humid coloring.

As the sun crested under the darkened waves of the Gallion Ocean, its fading light danced off the glass of their surrounding walls. Even the shined white stones of the floor seemed to be reflecting the fading light of their sole sun. And as Elila looked around to commit every single dancing color to memory, she realized that the sharks had truly created something of mythic beauty.

"This place is amazing." Elila commented realizing that she alone would only ever witness such a site.

The sharks were a terribly reclusive tribe. Their closed ranks often reminded Elila of her own jungle cat heritage. She imagined that it was entirely likely that she was the only non-Midali tribe member to ever enter the sacred halls of the Fluid.

And everyone had been so exceptionally nice to her. Upon awaking rather late in the day, Elila had gone in search of Pedryn. She passed several strange sharks that had been quite helpful in locating their alpha.

"I like it... It's always so quiet up here." Pedryn answered leaning down to rest her body weight against the railing.

Briefly, Elila looked around and noticed that they alone occupied this spectacular balcony. The heron suspected that the other sharks were cutting Pedryn a lot of space out of respect and a bit of fear. Even though Elila didn't know the alpha shark that well even she could tell that Pedryn wasn't herself.

And the heron was well versed in the many violent throngs of Pedryn's anger. She knew that it was best stay out of the shark's path when Pedryn was suffering a bit of ill temper. And if the situation had been any different Elila realized that she too would most likely give the shark a wide berth to move.

But she couldn't afford that luxury now. She needed the shark's help. And besides, even though Elila could feel the tension radiating off the shark's form she knew that she was in no real danger. Pedryn might be upset, worried and perhaps a bit angry. But it was more then clear to Elila that the shark had no intention of turning any of it towards her.

"You haven't slept." Elila said noticing that the shark still wore the clothes that she had seen her in the night before.

Although, Elila wasn't complaining. The shark was a delicious sight in pale blues and grays. They made her naturally luminescent skin seem even more luxurious. And right now, there was something so terribly vulnerable about the shark. Her normally proud and physically threatening frame was hunched over as if to cower from an unknown threat.

Her sparkling blue eyes seemed tired and worried. Her long blonde hair had been carelessly pulled back from her face and roughly knotted into a low ponytail. Pedryn's entire body seemed to be crying out for rest.

And for a second, Elila found herself reacting to the shark in strange and nurturing ways. She walked closer to Pedryn placing a soft delicate hand on the cool expanse of the shark's cheek. Pedryn's eyes seemed to flare at the contact. The touch was unexpected and somewhat shocking. Up until now, they had been quite careful at holding each other to the relative safety of arms length.

Unable to withstand the warm and comforting touch of her former victim, the shark practically jumped across the room. Pedryn froze in place momentarily alarmed by the stupidity of her own actions. She had run from Elila like the fragile heron was the predator between them.

She was overtired, worried, and under a great deal of stress. And in some ways, she really didn't trust the heron. After everything she had put Elila through she imagined that the girl could only ever want vengeance.

But now, it was Elila who was uncomfortable. Pedryn had jumped away from her as if the mere touch of her hand had burned her. And the heron was feeling a bit self-conscious. Elila had never been known for her overly affectionate ways. And the fact that she had reached out to someone, let alone Pedryn, was reason enough for surprise.

"Sorry..." Elila muttered not really sure what it was that she was apologizing for.

Apparently, she had misread the situation. And for that she was truly sorry. She thought that on some level they were becoming friends. And if she were at all honest with herself, Elila realized that part of her had been foolishly creating thoughts of something more.

Her silent stares at the shark had been far more then platonic in nature. Every time Elila was around Pedryn she found herself appreciating the shark's natural beauty even more. And it was a realization that wholly disturbed the young heron.

Pedryn should be the very last person on the planet that she harbored any type of attraction towards. But Elila couldn't deny her wandering eyes or quickening pulse. There was something about Pedryn that made Elila feel fiery and brilliant. There was something about Pedryn that made her body burn and swell from the inside out...

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Even though she tried to rouse herself from such distracting and completely inappropriate thoughts, the heron found herself unable to quell the rising wave of desire cresting throughout her form. Desire was such a strange phenomenon to Elila. She had known little of it throughout her life.

Of course, she had always been drawn to Kellis. But in some ways that had been more of a social attraction then actual physical hunger. As the premier warrior for her tribe, Kellis was highly sought after. It would be odd for a young woman not to be interested in the tall leggy blonde.

Yet, Elila had to admit that her attraction to Kellis had often wavered after mere thoughts of social engagements. But that's not to say that Elila didn't have powerful feelings for her friend. Because she most certainly did. Things were just so confusing now. So much had changed since the start of the Gallion.

If she had somehow been able to snare her fair warrior cat's attention then so much of her life would have changed. There had been a time when Elila had done nothing but muse over the shear power one warrior could affect in her life. But despite her heartfelt sincerity and completely devoted friendship Kellis never seemed to want anything beyond the platonic from her.

But Elila had been content to wait. Everyone told her that in the end, Kellis would come around. The young heron knew that her parents were practically counting on it.

Yet in the mere span of days, Elila was beginning to see things far more differently. She was tired of waiting for Kellis to finally settle down. And she was losing faith in her parents by the moment.

The only reason that Elila had ever agreed to come back to Fasara Territory is the dire need to create an heir to the throne. Thash would lose all control of the tribe if that weren't accomplished. And Elila had come back, foolishly convinced that this time things would be different.

But nothing had changed. She was still a heron in a tribe full of jungle cats. And Elila was slowly realizing that it was coming time for her to make a decision.

If her parents had something to do with what happened to her that night on the water the young heron didn't think that she could ever forgive them. But if that were the case she would be emotionally free of her tribal obligation to help them. Then she could simply disappear into the unknown realms of the Animal Kingdom. And without an heir, her parents would lose power.

But Elila was far more self-aware to think that she had only remained in Fasara Territory out of some sort of biological obligation to her parents. What had kept her there in that wretchedly hot jungle village was the hope that someday Kellis would return her feelings. But even Elila had to admit that there was little chance of that happening now.

If she left she would surely miss Yamina. But the heron wouldn't stay simply to make her parents or her friend happy. If her parents had betrayed her, the fiercest hybrids on the planet couldn't force her to stay.

But she had to have all the information before she made a decision of such powerful proportions. She needed to know what really happened that night on the water. And to know that she somehow had to get back to the swamp.

The trip there was long and dangerous. It would be difficult to make it alone. But given what she had been through with the cobra the young heron was feeling surprisingly brave. She had been through much in the supposed relative safety of the Gallion Village. How much worse could the swamp actually be?

And yet, Elila knew that she would need help if she were going to make it there. She would need funds and the silence of the Midali. It would be terribly foolish for Pedryn to agree to what she was about to ask. But she was hoping to play into the shark's sympathies. Surely, Pedryn would see the dire reason why she had to go.

"No, don't be sorry. It's me. You just...startled me." Pedryn muttered.

She was acting like nothing more then frightened prey. But she couldn't help it. Her skin still burned from where Elila had touched her.

And for just a moment, she had to resist her every instinct to tenderly cradle her burnt flesh. She was feeling woefully sensitive. And she certainly didn't need to get in touch with her feelings, not with the heron so painfully close.

Seeing Elila this way had already unraveled the fragile cords of emotional tethers that had been holding her so carelessly together. And now that Carielle had disappeared she was beginning to feel like she might actually break in two. So many volatile and painful emotions had been neatly packed in the course of mere hours. It was too much for her to handle. It was too much for anyone to handle.

"I'll have someone take you down to the transport." Pedryn said quickly turning on her heel to walk away.

"That won't be necessary." Elila answered putting a stop to Pedryn's retreat.

"Given the fact that somewhere out there a cobra is still actively hunting for you I think that an escort is very necessary." Pedryn snapped wondering why the heron would be so careless with her own safety.

After everything that Elila had been through Pedryn had simply expected her to be more diligent in such matters. But instantly she regretted the harsh tone that she had taken with the girl. Elila's eyes looked down and a painful ache began to swirl within her pupils. Pedryn never meant to snap at the girl.

"I apologize. I'm just...tired." Pedryn said trying to assuage the obvious offense that she had caused.

"It's all right. I only meant that I won't be boarding the transport back to the Lodge. I have...other plans." Elila answered noticing that she suddenly seemed rather hungry.

Briefly, the heron wondered if Pedryn would object to allowing her to dine with the other Midali before departing. She had a long journey ahead of her and it would pass far more easily on a full stomach. Although, Elila doubted that the Fluid would be stocked full of anything that she would like to ingest.

She had seen enough to know that the Midali diet was painfully similar to that of her jungle cat brethren. Their plates were always filled with near raw meat and sopping-sweet blood sauce. Where as the heron's body much preferred the nutrients found in a wild salad, flowers, or even the leaves from a mint tree.

"I see." Pedryn answered a bit surprised by the heron's statement.

She could see something riding very close to the surface of Elila's skin. It was hot and humid and filled with a laser-focused intent. The shark had only ever witnessed it once before.

It was odd to see the heron suddenly so determined. She imagined that if Elila were in the wild, she would take this opportunity to prune and pluck at her brilliant feathers. But they weren't in the wild. They were in the large and spacious glass enclosed lookout tower of the Fluid. And Elila, unlike her heron ancestors, had no feathers to prune. But she did have a brilliant shimmering beauty.

And Pedryn was finding herself drawn to the small ivory girl with an overwhelming need. It was an odd sensation for the shark. She was familiar in all the different ways that the lust for blood would course through her body.

But this was somehow different, this ran deeper. She was slowly and steadily developing actual feelings for the heron. And it was a realization that could destroy her.

The heron was the last person in the world that she should harbor any type of sentimental feeling towards. She had to stop this strange sensation from flowing within.

But halting her attraction to Elila was like asking to stop the very beat of her heart. She truly cared for Elila. And that itself was reason for sorrow.

Elila was her natural enemy. One day, Elila's mate would most likely wage war against her tribe. She couldn't have this flutter in heart every time the heron was around.

It was a weakness and one that could potentially be exploited. She had to stop this growing ache. But as she looked into the piercing emerald eyes of the woman before her, Pedryn knew that it would surely be easier to stop the rising sun.

"May I ask what these plans are? Surely the Fasara have missed you by now." Pedryn said trying to remain a safe distance from the woman that had her wound so tightly.

"I've decided to take a trip. And I can't go back to the Lodge. It will be too difficult to leave from there. It will be easier to leave from here. The jungle cats haven't seen me all night. They have no idea where I am. This will be...better." Elila explained trying to choose her words carefully.

"You're planning to go someplace without the permission of your chaperone or parents?" Pedryn asked finding the very idea to be absurd.

She knew very well that Elila was well versed in the law. Any daughter of a tribal alpha would have to be. Since she was unmarried, Elila was still in the custody of her parents. And during her time at the Gallion she was legally in the custody of whoever her parents had turned her over to. If she were to simply take off there would be severe repercussion.

If anything were to happen to Elila while she was gone her parents would legally be held responsible for whatever had befallen her. That's why most people tended to keep a rather short leash on their daughters, especially the young beautiful ones. In a Kingdom where hunting is done for sport and pleasure leaving a young girl out on her own is simply asking for trouble.

But lucky for Elila, the alpha shark had no intention of letting anything untoward happen to her. Even if it meant following the girl to the very ends of the earth. No, she would make sure that Elila was protected and safe. After all, Pedryn knew from personal experience what a delicious piece of prey the young heron could be. And Pedryn had no intention of letting anyone else sample the succulent bounty of her humid swamp blood.

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"I have to go, without their permission that is. I'm afraid that they wouldn't approve." Elila answered wrapping her arms neatly behind her back.

The motion caused the young heron's body to jut out allowing the shark to gaze more clearly at her humid features. For the first time, Pedryn noticed that Elila wasn't wearing the clothes she had on the previous evening. The shark could of course see the logic in that. Elila had had a rather long night.

And during its course she had involuntary ingested venom, been drenched in a Midali ceremonial pool, and hiked clear through the forest all the way back to the Fluid. Pedryn imagined her once beautiful dress was covered in a myriad of stains. But last night, she really hadn't noticed.

At first, she had been too exhausted to notice such things. But then, she had been too angry and suspicious. When she found out that Carielle had disappeared after a closed-door talk with the heron she had assumed the worst. And in that instant when she charged through Elila's door she had been far too wrapped up in the haze of her sour guilt to take notice of the heron's appearance.

But now, for some reason, her mind seemed to have cleared. And all she could focus on with her laser-sharp vision was Elila's ivory body covered in the traditional colors of the Midali tribe. She was wearing a rich velvety cream dress of sparkling ocean blue and richly toned gray.

"Where did you get that?" Pedryn asked cautiously.

She had no idea where Elila could have gotten her hands on traditional Midali clothing. But the shark had absolutely no intention of complaining. The heron was breathtaking in her natural state. Even her cosmetics had long since worn-off.

And in its wake was a fresh rising of raw swamp features. Pedryn imagined that she could stare into the emerald light of Elila's eyes for a mere eternity and never fully grasp the depths of their green. Cautiously, she walked towards Elila suddenly feeling rather drawn to the heron's form.

"Oh this?" Elila asked lightly pulling the velvet dress folds away from her body. Pedryn only nodded in agreement taking the opportunity to sweep one long gentle circle around the heron's body.

"Baysha gave it to me. She took one look at my dress and thought that this would be more appropriate." Elila answered feeling somewhat dizzy by the way Pedryn was continually circling her form.

The shark's motion was lazy and continuous. But Elila didn't miss its double meaning. All predators had a tendency to circle their prey. And Elila knew from personal experience that Pedryn was no different.

"I hope it's not a problem. I did ask Baysha about it. But she didn't think that you would mind, considering the circumstance and all." Elila rambled reasonably certain that Pedryn wasn't even listening to her.

The shark's eyes had glazed over until her black pupils had disappeared into a wash of sea blue. The effect was unsettling to say the least, especially since Elila had seen it happen before.

Logically, she knew that it had something to do with a biological need for self-protection. The eyes, being one of the few vulnerable places on a shark's body, had over time evolved to eliminate that weakness as well.

Elila knew that Pedryn's ancestors, the sparse creatures that still swam within the darkened depths of the sea, had this innate ocular flaw. But the Midali's more advanced hybrid DNA had weeded this defect out rather efficiently over time. The pupils would retract into the eye, ever so slightly. And then a paper-thin film would cover the rest of the eye protecting it from any flailing object or harsh substance that could cause damage.

At the time of her attack, Elila had been unaware of this biological adaptation. During that night on the water, Pedryn had seemed like some sort of monster. Her eyes only mirrored Elila's sentiments as they turned a thick and watery shade of electric blue.

But now Elila was far more versed in Midali physiology. After that horrible night, she had made it her business to know as much as she could. She wanted to know how and why they hunted. She wanted to know why they all seemed so impossibly strong and lightning fast.

Yet more then anything else, Elila knew that she had been looking for a weakness. She wanted to cling to some piece of information that would help her sleep better at night. But she had found nothing.

And as she watched Pedryn's body succumb to the involuntary physiological changes of the hunt, she felt her own heart race in terror. Quickly, her mind flipped through all the events of the last few minutes. She had done nothing to bring this on.

There had been no anger between them. She wasn't bleeding or physically invading Pedryn's personal space. And the loud raucous fighting that could often cause a Midali frenzy had certainly not occurred.

Elila was mystified. To her, things had been moving along quite smoothly. She had been pleasant and courteous. And Pedryn had seemed amicable, for the most part.

Something wasn't right. It just didn't make sense. So when Pedryn stepped into another circle, moving ever closer to Elila's tensed body, the heron watched with wide unblinking eyes.

"No, it's perfect. I mean...it looks perfect on you. I mean...it's fine Elila." Pedryn answered avidly stuttering over every single one of her words.

Quickly, the shark broke off her hunting pattern. It had been subconscious and unintentional. But she knew that Elila had noticed. The shock and fear cresting in the heron's eyes reflected vivid testimony.

"So, you said you weren't going back to the Lodge. May I ask where you are going?" Pedryn politely stated trying desperately to reclaim some kind of dignity to her tone.

She was acting like a hormone-driven, inexperienced, fumbling young teenager. And it was a thought that left her with no shortage of self-abasement. In a short period of time she would inherit the throne and become the tribal Alpha for the entire Midali tribe. She couldn't let the presence of one mere heron unsettle her so greatly.

But as Pedryn looked at Elila, she wondered how she would ever behave like her normal cold and stoic self in the girl's presence. Elila could unravel her. She could penetrate her aloof nature with little more then a smile or stare. Silently, Pedryn mused over the fact that this was a situation ripe for complete tribal disaster.

Yet, it had all been brought about so easily. All it had taken was to see Elila in the colors of her tribe. And from that moment on, Pedryn had lost complete control to some sort of primal mating imperative.

"Are you hunting me?" Elila asked softly and without hesitance.

She kept her eyes firmly latched onto the shiny stoned floor at her feet. She couldn't look at Pedryn even though her will power was screaming at her to do so. If she was about to be attacked, Elila didn't want to see it coming. She didn't need those images to flood her mind. After everything that had already happened, she had had enough of nightmares.

"NO! I...I wouldn't do..." Pedryn stopped her outpouring of emotion and words with a shaky breath.

She had never meant to frighten Elila. But she didn't think that the truth would sound much better. She hadn't taken to the girl as a predator to prey. She had been drawn to Elila as nothing more then a woman to her mate.

But that was an explanation that Pedryn was reasonably certain that Elila didn't want to hear. Given their tribal positions and their history her attraction to Elila, whether it was involuntary or not, could readily be construed as completely inappropriate. And even though Pedryn knew she was prescribing to the social norms she usually chose to ignore and scorn, in this case, she wholeheartedly agreed.

She couldn't have these feelings for Elila. She couldn't want to feel Elila's fragile body wrapped in the circle of her steely arms. She couldn't have that. She couldn't have the heron.

But even though her mind knew all the many logical reasons why such a union could never occur, her body seemed to be ignoring all of her silent pleas. Her heart rate had yet to slow. Her skin was still flushed. And she could easily feel the continual dilation of her eyes.

Even after everything and with all the impossible obstacles between them, she wanted Elila, with a raw physical ache that couldn't be soothed by all the water in the Gallion Ocean. She craved Elila. And it was a stubborn fact that could eventually bring her to her knees.

"No. I wouldn't do that." Pedryn reiterated trying to move away from the heron. There was safety in distance. But right now, the shark suspected that even the other side of the world wouldn't be far enough.

Actually, Pedryn was a bit surprised that Elila had assumed her actions had been motivated by violence. Elila lived amongst a tribe of jungle cats. And although the blood of the hunt might abstain from the blue heron's veins, the girl should still be able to recognize its signs.

Surely, somewhere within the boundaries of her own tribe Elila must have witnessed the mating habits of predators. And although not identical, Pedryn knew that there were many similarities between the manners of lovemaking from tribe to tribe. In fact, Pedryn had a hard time believing that Elila hadn't participated in such predatory mating play first-hand.

But as soon as the thoughts filtered through her mind, Pedryn saw a dawn of recognition brighten the heron's features. Elila finally realized that she had been in no real danger. Pedryn hadn't been after the meat of her body or the blood in her veins.

And now, the heron knew the truth. Pedryn was attracted to her. But instead of the horror or disgust that the shark was expecting to witness another emotion entirely flooded through Elila's eyes.And even though Pedryn tried valiantly to convince herself that she must be misreading things, the shark was nearly certain that she saw the mirroring of her very own desire.

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Elila stood there railing at herself for the foolishness of her very own thoughts. She was actually pleased as she saw the cresting of desire rising in the shark's eyes. She was pleased and understandably relieved.

For a horrible split second, she had actually thought that Pedryn meant to hunt her. All of the signs had been there. But thankfully, she had been mistaken.

It was Pedryn's intent to mate. And Elila realized that for a moment, her mind could only wrap itself around the concept of deep heart-wrenching sorrow. She hadn't been able to recognize desire. She hadn't recognized the face of want even when it was mere inches from her own.

She tried to tell herself that it was all because of their history. After all, Pedryn was the last person in the world who should harbor such feelings for her. But inside, in that place that still hurt, Elila knew her misjudgment was due to something else entirely.

Her misreading of Pedryn's intention stemmed more from her time with the jungle cats then that night on the water. No one had ever looked at her like that. No one had ever wanted her. No one, until Pedryn...

She was different from all of them. And as much as she hoped it would turn out otherwise, Kellis too seemed to find her wholly unattractive. Elila knew it wasn't her fault. She didn't ask to be born a half-breed. It was simply the status of her unforgiving jungle cat society that beleaguered her for her natural heron's features.

But Pedryn had somehow seen past the bile mixing of her heritage. The shark liked her. More then that, Pedryn obviously desired her. And that was a fact that Elila reasonably knew should frighten her right down to her very core.

It was natural to assume that wanting and longing had caused that horrible incident that night on the water. But time and distance had given Elila far too much reason for that. She knew innately that that night had absolutely nothing to do with sex. In fact, physical desire wasn't even a remote factor.

It had everything to do with violence; in it's most destructive form. It was a night filled with anger and vengeance. And in some ways, Elila knew that it was about control.

But the heron couldn't fully understand the motives behind the shark's actions. She needed more information. And that's why Elila knew it was time to make her way back home.

She needed to know what the real reason was behind the attack. She simply had to know. Because when Pedryn looked at her with affection and need circling through her eyes the heron realized she felt far more then simple gratitude. She wasn't just pleased or flattered that someone finally found her mixed breeding attractive. She was pleased that it was Pedryn.

Somewhere in between their sudden crossing of paths and this strange yet inspired moment, Elila found herself drawn to the shark. Despite her best attempts to quell her rising emotions the heron knew that on an innate level, she was deeply attracted to Pedryn. She wasn't sure if it was the shark's natural beauty or even her stealth and speed. Elila suspected that it had something to do with Pedryn's uncharacteristic kindness, generosity, and her special unique brand of softness.

Whatever the reason, it had whispered to her heart. And the heron had listened. Elila knew that she was running off to the swamp for Pedryn just as much as for herself. She needed to prove that all of her nightmares had been wrong about Pedryn. She needed to prove that her affection could in fact, be returned.

"The swamp... I need to get back to the swamp." Elila said swiftly changing the subject. They had already spent too much dancing around the strange exchange between them. She needed to leave now, before she lost her nerve.

"Oh? Does this have to do with your family there?" Pedryn asked relieved that Elila seemed to be once again comfortable in her presence. It would appear that the heron was willing to ignore her subconscious slip into the realm of uncharted emotional territory. And for that, Pedryn was whole-heartedly grateful.

"Yes. Well no...not in the way that you think." Elila answered realizing that she wasn't making any sense at all to her watchful companion.

"Well then, as long as your intentions are crystal clear." Pedryn mused allowing her voice to dip into a somewhat sardonic tone.

"I see. I didn't realize humor was a Midali characteristic." Elila replied unaffected by the shark's witticism.

"It's one of our lesser known traits." Pedryn answered slowly becoming aware that Elila could possibly be wholly misinformed.

There were literal hordes of rumors floating about the kingdom on what the Midali were actually like. Being the uncontested top predator on the planet came with its fair share of notoriety. But they were a close and reclusive tribe.

Any information the outside world gathered on them was due impart to gossip, all out rumors, and misappropriated facts. One such rumor was that the Midali never smiled. Pedryn had actually heard that in some realms of the kingdom the other hybrids believed that not once in the span of centuries had a shark ever laughed.

And it would appear that young Elila had been no stranger to such outright misleading facts. But it didn't upset Pedryn. In fact, the contrary was quite true. She found the prospect of teaching Elila all there was to know about the Midali tribe to be quite intoxicating.

"So Elila, why the sudden desire to return to Black Moon?" Pedryn asked trying desperately not to get her hopes up.

She knew all too well the kinds of things that went on in the swamp. A large portion of their economy was based solely on the buying and selling of information. And even though she couldn't tell Elila what really happened that night, someone from the swamp could.

Pedryn wasn't stupid. She knew that all parties involved had covered their illegal tracks insanely well. But she also knew of Black Moon's reputation. If there was any place in the world that could hold the answer to Elila's question, it was the swamp.

"Well, it's not sudden. I always want to go home. I fully regret the day I agreed to leave in the first place. But this trip isn't about being homesick. I think you know what it's about." Elila answered crossing her arms and trying her best to look steely.

Pedryn appreciated what the heron was trying to do. Fragile young Elila wanted desperately to look brave. And Pedryn had to try her absolute best to hide the smile that was threatening to erupt.

The young girl simply looked adorable as she tried to stand there and seem unafraid. But Pedryn knew the truth. Leaving the Gallion Village to covertly return to the swamp was simply asking for trouble, both from her parents and from the law. The task before her wasn't an easy one and Pedryn wasn't certain that the girl was up for the challenge.

"Elila, are you sure this is what you really want to do?" Pedryn asked softly.

Instantly, the heron seemed to take great offense to the comment. Her green eyes flew open all the while flashing like an angry sharp laser. Her brow slowly formed into a scowl. And her entire body seemed to tense and coil.

The young one was preparing to fight. And though Pedryn certainly appreciated her attitude, she still found it alluring nonetheless. Elila was simply full of surprises. And the shark was finding every single one of them more attractive then the last.

"I didn't make this decision lightly. And I don't appreciate you questioning me." Elila answered not bothering to take the annoyed edge out of her tone.

There was a small voice that chirped up inside of her. It was the voice that told her to shut up and be quiet. Good girls didn't speak in an angry manner, not to warriors anyway.

And on some level she knew that Pedryn was probably the last person she should be taking such a harsh or discourteous tone with. But she couldn't help it. When she was in the shark's presence Elila found it quite difficult to reign in her emotions.

"I'm not questioning you. Please don't misunderstand me. I'm just...concerned." Pedryn answered trying to placate the heron. But Elila was having none of it. She stayed in the same rigid posture she had been holding for the last several minutes.

"Black Moon is a dangerous place. The trip there is quite...difficult. I'm just not sure you know what you're getting into. And don't forget, there is a cobra out there who has tried to kill you not once but twice. I'm just not sure that now is the time to be taking an excursion off of Fasara Territory." Pedryn explained putting Elila's welfare above her own motives.

The swamp was perhaps the one and only chance that the heron had at discovering the truth. And Pedryn knew that if Elila never learned what really happened she would always assume the worst of her. And as much as she would like the circumstance to be different, she wouldn't put Elila in danger just so that she could have a chance at friendship with the girl.

Besides, deep down Pedryn knew that she was just kidding herself. She didn't want mere friendship or amicable feelings from the heron. She wanted a whole lot more from Elila. Pedryn wanted everything that Elila would surely never consent to give.

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"Why don't you wait until Licara has been found? Then you can tell your parents you want to go. I'm sure that Tezara wouldn't object to allowing your return, if only for a bit. It is her family after all that I assume you want to visit. That way you'll have an escort and you won't be in danger." Pedryn said once again trying to keep the heron out of harm's way.

She was having to stifle her desire with every word she spoke but in the end, Pedryn knew she was doing the right thing. She might want Elila to know the truth. But she refused to put her in danger just so that could happen.

The heron seem to stand there digesting every single word she spoke. And Pedryn was glad that Elila had obviously cared enough to listen intently. But she could tell that the heron was warring inside. She assumed that Elila was weighing the wisdom of words. She never guessed that the heron was trying to decide whether or not to qualify her decision.

The only reason that Elila had even mentioned her plan to Pedryn was because she needed the shark's help. But she most certainly did not need Pedryn's permission. She would go with or without Pedryn's approval. She would find someone else to help her if she had to.

But she found herself suddenly wanting to give the shark a solid piece of her mind. Pedryn didn't know her, not really. The shark had no right to make those assumptions about her. And she wanted to set the shark straight on several different matters.

And yet, that voice cropped up again. In her native jungle household women were punished sternly and lavishly for speaking up. If she were speaking to Thash her next course of action wouldn't be a question. The only prudent thing for her to do would be to shut up and never ever question Thash's authority or wisdom.

But she innately knew that somehow, Pedryn was different. She could tell that the shark didn't spend much time not in the company of warriors. Being around her for the last few days had surely tested every single one of the shark's feminine manners. And at the moment, she was willing to bet that Pedryn wouldn't hold it against her if she truly spoke her mind.

"You're not being fair. You don't know me. And I didn't tell you what I was planning because I wanted a sounding board or you to talk me out of it. I told you because I need your help." Elila said trying her best to sound more calm and rational then she really felt.

"What do you mean?" Pedryn asked keeping her statement open for interpretation. She wanted to know what it was exactly that the heron was thinking. Because right now, she could practically see the wheels turning in her mind.

"First of all, I don't need you to warn me about the inherent danger of Black Moon Swamp. I lived there for most of my life. And look at me now. I'm fine. Obviously, I can take care of myself." Elila said realizing that Pedryn was probably misinformed about her upbringing.

When people first met her they always assumed that she had lived a typical sheltered life as the daughter of the tribal alpha. But with Thash and Tezara as her parents, nothing could be further from the truth. No one had sheltered her, no one even tried to. But Pedryn didn't know that. And Elila had to remind herself not to fault Pedryn for her lack of knowledge.

"And I don't know how safe I would be if I stayed in jungle cat territory. Or did you forget that the last time I was attacked by the cobra I was smack dab in the middle of the Fasara ceremonial banquet? I was surrounded by jungle cats in every different direction. But yet, I almost died. I would have to...if Carielle hadn't found me." Elila said sending a quick mental note of thanks to the currently missing shark.

"And my parents would never agree to let me go. I've wanted to go back, ever since... ever since that night." Elila answered clasping her hand across the width of her mouth in horror. She hadn't meant to have this conversation with Pedryn. And she could tell from the slapped look of shock crossing the shark's features that neither did she.

"Well, there's something there that they don't want me to know about. I all out begged my mother who is normally more sensitive then my alpha in such matters. But no matter what I said she all out forbid me to ever even think of leaving jungle cat territory. You know, they wouldn't even let me call my grandparents. At the time I just thought they were trying desperately to protect their secret. But now, I suspect it's something more." Elila answered watching as the information washed over Pedryn's features.

She was grateful to see that the shark was obviously listening to her concerns. She was even more pleased to see that Pedryn didn't seem to mind her expressing her thoughts. It was a nice change of pace, especially in a warrior. Even Kellis at times could be a bit traditional and unbending. Although Elila admitted that once, that had been her primary lure.

"And the trip there will of course be dangerous, especially with Licara out there. But there's no reason to believe that she won't follow me back to the Fasara Village. And trust me, I'll be far safer in Black Moon." Elila said leaning backwards to rest against the wide expanse of the glass wall behind her.

Pedryn tried her best to ignore the devastatingly breathtaking effect the setting sun had on Elila's features. Now wasn't the time for such displays of physical ogling. Now was the time for reason and logic.

"I can't believe that." Pedryn firmly answered. She might not be Thash's biggest fan but even she would recognize that the tribal Fasara Alpha was quite the accomplished warrior. Surely Thash could protect her daughter from the fangs of any hungry cobra.

"You don't know the jungle cats. And you don't know my relationship with the tribe." Elila snapped trying her best not to sound bitter. But if the look of confusion crossing the shark's features was any indication she was failing miserably.

"I had to leave the Fasara Village because of threats to my safety. I left when I was fairly young. That's why I grew up in Black Moon. I don't know the jungle village very well. My parents rarely let me leave the royal grounds. And on those rare occasions that I do get to leave I'm always accompanied by a somewhat unwilling protector." Elila explained not wanting to delve into the true division amongst her tribe.

She knew that it was a weakness Thash tried desperately to hide. If the rest of the kingdom knew of the division amongst the Fasara, war would most likely be eminent. During her time as tribal ruler Thash had acquired many enemies. And none would hesitate to exploit any potential weakness.

Truthfully, Elila knew that was part of the reason that she had been sent away. She was of course in danger from her fellow tribe mates. But more then that, she was an exploitable vulnerability. She was the unwanted half-breed daughter that reminded the tribe each and every day that Thash had flown in the face of centuries of sacred tradition.

Elila never understood why her mother never caught the brunt of their tribal hatred like she did. Oh, she knew that Tezara had been blessed with features that allowed her to blend more easily then her swamp-born daughter. But still, no one said so much as said one ill-tempered word to Tezara let alone physically threaten her.

Truthfully, Elila knew it had much more to do with Thash then her mother's jungle social skills. If anyone so much as looked at Tezara in a manner unbefitting her royal status, they would have to answer to Thash. But Elila's alpha had afforded her no such luxury. She had been left to fend for herself. And needless to say, as one lone heron in a tribe of predators she faired quite poorly.

"I completely understand your desire not to deal with Licara in unfamiliar territory. And if the Fasara Village really is that unknown to you then I'll concede that perhaps the swamp is a better alternative. However, I still think you need to take someone with you. The trip there will be trying without a consort. What about your chaperone here? Can't you take her?" Pedryn asked trying to comprehend the reason behind Elila's thoughts.

Though she was beginning to understand the heron better by the moment, she was beginning to doubt everything she had ever perceived to be true about Thash. There was much that she wanted to ask Elila about her relationship with her alpha. But she knew that now was most assuredly not the appropriate time.

"Kellis? Trust me, I can't even ask her let alone take her. Besides her schedule is far too busy to gallivant around the globe babysitting me." Elila answered unable to keep the scoffing scorn from entering her voice. She didn't want to speak of Kellis now. That was a subject far too emotionally explosive.

"All right, not Kellis. But there has to be someone? It doesn't necessarily have to be a warrior. Any jungle cat would suffice." Pedryn said trying her best to be diplomatic.

She didn't want to have to remind Elila that even the other women in the tribe posses superior strength and speed in comparison to her own. But right now, Pedryn suspected that that would be like rubbing salt in an already open wound. Elila knew she wasn't a predator. And the girl certainly knew how vulnerable she was to them, in whatever form they might appear.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 23

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"My only friend in the village is Yamina. But I can't ask her to go. She's in no condition to travel." Elila added a bit softly.

She didn't need to tell Pedryn why. The shark knew exactly who Yamina was. Elila was only grateful that Carielle wasn't here to discuss her as well.

"Look, I'll be fine once I get there. I'll stay in gator territory. Trust me, no snake would dare travel there." Elila said trying to reassure the shark. She was beginning to find Pedryn's concern quite sweet actually.

"No, I suppose not. But you shouldn't go there either." Pedryn snapped thinking that the last place a heron should be was within striking distance of a gator hybrid.

"I suppose the same could be said about my staying here." Elila answered putting a gentle laugh into her tone.

"Elila, I don't like this." Pedryn said knowing that there was a definite sound of defeat to her tone. It would appear that the heron was determined to go through with this. And the shark was through trying to stop her.

"All right. You said you needed my help. What is it that you want?" Pedryn asked wondering what it was that the heron needed her assistance with.

"Well, I need two things actually. The first is your silence. I'm sure the entire tribe knows by now that I was taken to Midali Territory sometime last night. Given what happened and my subsequent turning blue, I'm sure they'll naturally assume that my continued absence is due to health concerns. Now before I leave for the swamp I'm going to put my ID card on the next transport running back to the Lodge." Elila explained hoping that Pedryn understood what it was exactly that she was trying to do.

"You're trying to throw them off... You're ID rides around on the transport for the rest of the night while you make your way out of the Gallion Village. By the time the jungle cats realize that you're not on the transport they'll have no idea where you are." Pedryn responded easily figuring out what it was that the heron intended to accomplish.

Pedryn didn't comment on how strange it was to her that Elila carried an actual ID instead of a cyber chip. Most tribes had a standard policy of implanting all members. She knew for a fact that the Fasara readily adhered to the implantation process. She couldn't figure out why it was that Elila would have been excluded from such a process. But she knew that now wasn't really the time to ask. Now was the time to focus on the task at hand.

"Exactly. But I need you to tell them that you have no idea where I went. Tell them that after I recovered from my venomous ordeal I left in state of fear. They'll believe that. Tell them I simply took off and you didn't care to stop me." Elila said knowing that no one in her tribe would disbelieve the above scenario.

The Midali were they're natural enemy. She was supposed to inherently fear them, not take up at their lodgings for the night. To her jungle cat sisters, the truth would actually sound far more unbelievable.

"I can do that. And the second part?" Pedryn asked not even giving a second thought to the prospect of lying to the Fasara. It wasn't her responsibility to help them keep watch of Elila. Perhaps this little incident would remind them to keep a closer eye on their tribal heiress.

"I need to borrow credit." Elila said adding a sad note of apology to her voice.

But she didn't have a choice. The only credit she carried was easily traceable and directly in her alpha's name. She couldn't use it, not if she intended to remain unnoticed.

"Fine." Pedryn answered having not the slightest problem with funding Elila's little vacation.

She was in no short supply of monetary resources. And she assumed that the heron had already realized as much. While she didn't necessarily flaunt her wealth, she didn't hide it either. Besides, she too stood to gain from Elila's excursion. And if it cost her a bit she didn't mind. In fact, she was quickly beginning to realize that she would pay any price to wipe away all traces of the fear she had left deep within the heron's heart.

"Wow, you agreed rather easy. And I didn't even have to list you all the many reasons that I spent hours thinking up last night." Elila answered quite relieved that Pedryn had agreed to both of her requests.

"I'm feeling generous today." Pedryn answered smiling a bit at all that had just transpired between them. Elila had asked her for help. And they had carried on a complete conversation like two normal people. All in all, the shark was feeling rather elated.

"Really? How generous?" Elila asked in a somewhat teasing tone.

She wandered over to the shark closing the distance between them. She let the locks of her hair fall casually on her face. She clasped her hands tightly behind her back, seemingly unaware that the motion caused her breasts to thrust out. And before she even opened her mouth to speak she took a careful minute to wet the length of her soft pink lips.

"What exactly did you have in mind?" Pedryn asked completely aware of the fact that it seemed the young heron was actually flirting with her.

"Well, you're right about the trip. It will be less then pleasant, especially if I go alone. But at most it will be no longer then two days." Elila say rolling her head to the side to stare at Pedryn through her wide-open eyes.

"And what exactly is your point?" Pedryn asked wondering if Elila even knew that she was actively flirting with the predator to secure her wishes.

Pedryn might not know Elila as well as she would like. But she had intently observed her over the last couple of days. And from that, she had learned that Elila could be quite unaware of her own innate feminine charms.

"Well, I was just wondering if Zeranna or Carielle or anyone else you might know around here would perhaps be free over say the next forty-eight hours?" Elila asked totally surprising the shark with her request.

Pedryn had naturally assumed that Elila would be far too uncomfortable in the presence of a Midali to travel with one. And she was happy to see just how wrong she had been. The alpha shark would be more then pleased to send a Midali warrior with the heron. In fact, she had been planning on sending one along anyways. But this way would be much more pleasant for all parties involved.

"I'm sure Zeranna can be persuaded to tag along. I don't think she's ever been to Black Moon. I'm sure she'll enjoy the trip." Pedryn said watching in delight as Elila's eyes positively lit up.

"Wonderful! You know, you're far more accommodating then your reputation indicates." Elila said feeling quite pleased with her own rather virginal negotiating skills.

"Only with you Elila. And besides you only asked for things that I was more then willing to give." Pedryn answered unable to stop the somersault of nerves in her own fluttering stomach. Being this close to Elila was beginning to affect her again. And she couldn't let her natural instincts take over, not when things had finally started to go so well for them.

"Well, I'm going to go find something to eat. I have a long trip ahead of me. You'll talk to Zeranna?" Elila asked turning on her heel to leave.

She had felt this pull towards Pedryn. There was this unmistakable sensation in the air. And though Elila had never before experienced it she had to assume that it was nothing other then raw physical chemistry.

"On one condition. I want Zeranna to stay with you for as long as you're in the swamp." Pedryn said gearing up for another round of heated discussions with the heron. But Elila didn't even seem concerned by her comment. In fact, the heron seemed relieved.

"Of course. I'm sure she'll have a good time. I know I will." Elila said finally turning to take her leave.

Pedryn stood there for a few long minutes after the heron had departed. All she could do was stare into the space of nothingness. Somehow Elila had gotten through to her. The heron had penetrated all of her defenses in a mere matter of days. And now the shark suspected that for the first time in her long and troubled life, she was finally getting in well over her head.

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"How is she?" Neisha whispered trying her best not to waken the sleeping warrior. Kellis had been in and out of consciousness now for nearly two days. And Neisha didn't want to rob the warrior of a few moments of peaceful rest.

"The same." Melaryn answered squirming a bit in her chair.

In forty-eight hours she hadn't once left Kellis' side and the vigil was beginning to take its toll. Her muscles ached, her stomach churned, and with the setting of the sun came a whole new bout of utter exhaustion. She needed to rest. And she could tell from the chiding stare that her wife was giving her that Neisha was about to become rather adamant in her concerns.

"I'll tell you what. You go back to our rooms and lay down for a few hours. I'll stay here with Kellis." Neisha said using what could only be described as her best ‘mommy' voice.

Normally the tone would have bothered the proud warrior. But on a night like tonight, she could use a bit of mothering. Yet, even as tempting as the offer sounded Melaryn wasn't ready to give in just yet. Her pride, concern, and all out worry were still very much in control of her better judgment.

"Now you said yourself that Kellis is out of the woods. You expect that she will make a full recovery. She seems to be doing much better. And for the moment, things in the rest of the tribe seem somewhat calm.

I think that's it's really important that you take this opportunity to sleep while you can. You said that it could be weeks until Kellis is back on her feet. And we're set to leave the Gallion in a mere matter of hours. The entire tribe is going to be depending on you. Thash will have no choice but depend you. And you're not going to be a very good leader if you haven't slept in days." Neisha prodded hoping that her wife would take her up on the offer.

She could tell that Melaryn was dead tired. And the next few days were sure to be trying. Melaryn would need to be at her best. And though Neisha would love to do absolutely anything in her power to help, she couldn't lead the tribe. Only Melaryn could do that. But Neisha would make sure that she gave her wife all the support and care that her heart could offer.

"I know that I'm only an apprentice healer but Kellis is resting peacefully. If anything happens I'll get you. Please don't worry." Neisha soothed wrapping her arms around her tired wife's frame. Gently, she kissed her neck hoping that Melaryn was ready to give into logic.

"Well my dear, you do make an excellent point." Melaryn conceded practically feeling the beaming smile of her wife from behind.

"It's just..." Melaryn began letting her voice trail-off with her thought clearly unfinished.

"What?" Neisha asked kneeling on the ground next to Melaryn.

Some warrior's believed that many matters were better left unspoken, especially to the soft heart of a woman. But Melaryn certainly didn't prescribe to that belief. She told Neisha everything. And she loved the strict confidence that she shared with her wife. And now, if she couldn't share her concerns with Neisha then she was surely out of luck. Because the only other person that she ever confided in was currently unconscious.

"Something's not right here. I've trained to be a healer my entire life. And not once have I run across anything that even remotely resembles what happened to Kellis tonight. Neisha I've seen the effects of rollen consumption. I've even seen severe cases of rollen poisoning that resulted in death. But Kellis didn't have those symptoms. She had some of them. And let's face it; we both saw her drink far too much at the banquet. But it just seemed like there were other factors at play." Melaryn said thinking back to all the strange physical ailments that had befallen the golden warrior.

"Well, I'll admit that something about all of this just doesn't sit right. No one has even seen Narlene since the banquet but everyone is absolutely certain that she left with Kellis. And we did find Kellis near death in Narlene's room. But where is she? It's been days, why hasn't she come back yet?" Neisha commented thinking that all of this was ripe for quite conceivably the dirtiest of scandals.

"I don't know. You used to travel in the same circles as Narlene, Rilari, and Shaenebel. Do you know if any of them sample anything recreational that's a bit stronger then rollen juice?" Melaryn asked wincing at the memory of her wife's former association with the tribe's cattiest members.

"Stronger? Surely you aren't suggesting a narcotic of some kind? Trust me, all of that is too dirty and unpleasant for the likes of them. There's no way Narlene would ever involve herself in something like that. I know that Narlene can at times be rude and even a bit surly. But to her, image is everything. And believe me, drug-addiction is not an image that Narlene would ever be interested in acquiring." Neisha answered quite convinced that she knew all the habits of her former friends.

"Besides why? What are you thing?" Neisha asked as she got up to check on that status of Kellis' vitals.

"Jolari root...the symptoms that Kellis displayed are in accordance with a jolari overdose." Melaryn answered surprised that her wife hadn't thought of it before.

Neisha might not have the long years of healing experience that she did. But her wife was intelligent and amazingly perceptive. Surely, she must have seen the signs.

"Jolari...Melaryn this is serious. If Kellis suffered a jolari overdose the effects could permanent. And let's not forget what will happen when Thash finds out. She'll be dishonored and possibly even cast out of the tribe." Neisha said realizing that her personal relationship with Kellis had clouded her view of the obvious facts.

"We need to sample her blood. We need to find out for sure. If all of this was because of jolari we don't have a lot of time left. If we don't treat her now her disability could become permanent." Neisha added already rushing to the door prepared to find the nearest medical bay for supplies.

"NO! We can't do that." Melaryn said grabbing her wife roughly by the arms.

"What? Why not?" Neisha answered quite confused by her wife's unwillingness to help her own best friend.

"You said it yourself. Thash will cast her out. She'll have no place to go. And the jungle cats have no true allies. She'll have to stay here and live amongst all the other nomads without a home to call their own. Or worse, she'll have to go muck around in the swamp with those awful rats and gators. Do you think that's the kind of life that Kellis wants?" Melaryn asked laying out the grim future that the warrior could expect to have if Thash discovered her narcotic overdose.

"No, of course not." Neisha conceded pulling away from her wife just long enough to take a few careful visual studies of Kellis' form.

"But you said yourself that the effects of jolari can be permanent. We have to help her. Surely we can find some way to gain access to a IV-viewer without Thash's knowledge." Neisha said thinking that surely they could do something to prevent Kellis from suffering needlessly.

"Don't be ridiculous Neisha. You know that the IV-viewer is kept under only the most secure of locks. It's down there in the medical bay with all the other blood related equipment that's considered to be just shy of illegal. The only way to gain access to it is under third-party supervision and with dire cause. And since we can't let anyone in the tribe know of what has happened to Kellis I believe that we'll have to pursue an option that doesn't involve violating the blood laws." Melaryn answered letting her own exhaustion dictate her surly manner towards her wife. Intellectually she knew that Neisha was only trying to help. But still, her energy as well as her patience was wearing thin.

"Those laws hinder our ability to heal. If only they would bend them even just a bit..." Neisha answered letting her voice betray her supreme feelings of helplessness.

Melaryn didn't respond. It was an old and tired discussion between them. And now certainly wasn't the time to rehash it. The war with the humans had made the viewing of blood to be something akin to sinful. Testing it, sampling it, even administering it were all activities that were strictly guarded and regulated. And truthfully, the kingdom didn't need to explain the reason why.

Everyone could see the wisdom behind it. No one ever wanted to repeat what happened before. No one ever wanted to see the result of tampering yet again with the genetic code. Blood had been elevated to the esteemed heights of sacred. And those that strived to unravel its mysteries were considered by all to be only the lowliest of criminals.

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"There just has to be something that we can do. We both know what can happen to her if this is the result of a jolari overdose." Neisha whispered thinking that she wouldn't wish such a fate on even her worst enemy.

Jolari root was sold in many forms. One could acquire it from less then reputable establishments in pill form, as a liquid, or even as a spice. Some more traditional tribes still refused to believe in its negative biological effects or addictive qualities and still used it as an aphrodisiac. When used in microscopically small quantities it could effectively enhance the blood lust of any predator found on the planet.

But Neisha believed that the risks far outweighed the gains of ever using such a substance. Some jolari addicts suffered permanent physical paralysis on half or all of their bodies. Others lost their sense of vision or hearing. Some gave birth to children that were missing a limb or even an entire brain stem. And still others lost the ability to have children at all. Neisha could only hope that Kellis would be one of the lucky few that experienced the root of the jolari and managed to survive relatively unscathed.

"There's nothing that we can do Neisha. Trust me, I've tried to think of every possible answer. But there's nothing that we can do without compromising her position within the tribe. Any action that we might take is far too risky. And the consequences are simply to permanent to toy around with her future." Melaryn said trying to softly calm her wife. She loved Neisha for her open and kind heart. But this was one mess that they just couldn't get Kellis out of.

"I can't just stand here and watch. I can't do nothing when I know that that awful stuff could be riding through her system. I can't! Not when I know that we could be doing something to help her." Neisha said unable to hold on to the tears of helplessness that were drifting down her features.

"Honey, even if we had access to the blood equipment it's too late to do any good now. If the jolari root is going to hurt the body the damage occurs within the first thirty seconds of consumption. If Kellis did ingest jolari any injury she suffered has already happened. There really is nothing that we can do." Melaryn explained hoping that her wife would drop this topic once and for all.

"Besides, we don't even know for sure that Kellis did ingest jolari. If we're lucky, this is all because of rollen juice. All we can do is wait Neisha. And help her to deal with whatever the outcome." Melaryn added grateful that her wife seemed resign to the role of watcher.

Slowly, Neisha sunk down on the mattress next to the unconscious warrior. She perched on the side of the bed gently coming the blonde locks away from Kellis' face. The warrior's skin still felt as hot as an exploding volcano.

And there was nothing they could do for her now but wait. Melaryn returned to her chair and closed the distance between them with a soft and gentle touch of her hand. Neisha smiled and returned the gesture. Melaryn was tired. But she would wait here with her wife. They would draw off each other's strength.

The warrior didn't know how long they had been asleep for when she heard the incessant banging on the door. Neisha had yet to awaken. Her body was still curled up next to the unconscious warrior as if to protect Kellis with her smaller but quite sturdy frame.

Melaryn jolted out of her chair trying to shake off the remnants sleep. The only ones who knew she was with Kellis were Yamina, Rilari, and Shaenebel. And she had kept them under strict orders not to breathe a word to anyone. That's why this disturbance came as such a great surprise to her. Up until now, Rilari had been doing a wonderful job of keeping the rest of the tribe away from her and the sickly warrior.

Slowly, she opened the door a crack relieved to see that it was only Rilari standing there. She quickly let the girl in, though she was a bit unnerved by Rilari's obvious state of distress. The girl looked nervous and worried. And not once in all her years had Melaryn ever since such emotions displayed in the normally aloof young kitten.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Melaryn asked not caring that her clothes and hair were in complete disarray.

"We have a problem. Thash called the primary comm system. She's on hold now." Rilari answered looking as stunning as always. No matter what the situation, the young cat could always pull herself together.

"So? What? Does she want to speak with Kellis?" Neisha asked finally awakening from all the commotion.

Rilari only eyed her rather suspiciously before turning back to Melaryn. The young woman always preferred to deal with warriors then women. She simply got tired of their incessant jealousy. After all, it wasn't her fault that she was unarguably the most attractive jungle cat in all the tribe.

"No, she wants to speak with Elila." Rilari said directly to the warrior.

Carelessly, she tossed one long super shined blonde lock of her shoulder. Really, this wasn't her problem. She was only the messenger.

"So? Go get Elila. Why are you bothering me with this?" Melaryn snapped losing her manners in the wake of her exhaustion and worry.

"That's the problem. I can't find her. No one seems to know where our little heron has gone off to." Rilari answered unaffected by the warrior's surly manner. She could get just as nasty when the mood suited her. So she didn't begrudge others the chance to openly vent their hostilities.

"That's just great! Did you ask her chap..." Neisha began to ask but let her voice trail off. This was all they needed on top of everything else.

"What? Ask her chaperone? I'm afraid Kellis isn't much help at the moment." Rilari answered already annoyed with Neisha's inane prattle. Sometimes she couldn't believe that they had ever been friends.

"What about Yamina? Did you ask her?" Melaryn prodded trying to ignore the girl's obvious attitude towards her wife. She knew that it was really none of her business. But she tended to take personal offense when people cast disparagement towards Neisha.

"Of course I asked her. She said she has no idea where Elila is." Rilari retorted thinking that this was not a situation that she wanted to be in the middle of.

The whole thing was a wonderful piece of juicy scandal. But she could never share it, not if she wanted to keep her place within the tribe. And besides her obvious frustration with Melaryn's imposed silence, she could care less where Elila had gone off to.

She was more interested in the whereabouts of Narlene. She was dying to know what had taken place between Kellis and her friend. Because her instincts told her that the story would be chocked full of mouth-watering gossip.

"Oh god... this just couldn't get any worse." Neisha idled speaking more to herself then anyone in the room.

"Go tell Yamina I need to speak with her right away. And then get back on the comm and stall Thash." Melaryn said hoping that Yamina would at least be able to provide some clue as to the location of her friend.

"Stall Thash??? Are you kidding?" Rilari asked hating to even have to make cordial small talk with the brusque tribal alpha.

"YES RILARI!!! We need time to find Elila." Melaryn said all out screaming the first part of her order. And from the look on Rilari's face, the warrior knew that she had crossed an unspoken line. Rilari could be a dangerous adversary, especially when she had gossip to sell.

"Look, I really need your help. The tribe needs your help. Just tell Thash that Elila is out with Kellis and you'll have her call as soon as she gets back. Actually...I don't really care what you tell Thash. Just buy us some time." Melaryn said letting her voice drop down to an all-out beg.

Yet Rilari only stood there silently, as if to analyze her power in the given situation. She didn't want to make Melaryn her enemy. But she didn't want to appear meek or docile either.

"First let's get something clear, I am not your errand girl. I'll get Yamina for you. But when it comes to Thash, you're on your own. You want to stall her? You do it yourself. I'm not about to lie to the tribal alpha." Rilari answered placing her hands on her hips in open disgust.

She saw Neisha roll her eyes and sigh in contempt. She tried not to let it bother her. Their friendship ended long ago.

"Worried Rilari? Since when did you develop a conscience?" Melaryn asked unable to keep the scoffing tone from invading her voice.

"That's my offer. Take it or leave it." Rilari said firmly digging in her heels.

"Fine! Get Yamina. But tell Shaenebel to talk to Thash. I believe her moral fiber is less sturdy then your own." Melaryn snapped wishing that she could just give into her baser instincts and simply strangle the girl.

But Rilari gave her no more cause for ire. She only gave both warrior and wife an open glare of hostility. And then quickly marched over to the door.

"Oh by the way, that weird warrior is still hanging around outside. You know, what's her name? Lineva or something? Anyways she and Halauris are pretty much joined at the hip, which I find a bit odd, considering their respective social circles. She's demanding to speak with only Kellis. She says that she has dire tribal news. And I'm just not sure how much longer I can keep her on that side of the door." Rilari said adding the last part with an easily understood threat.

Melaryn only looked at her wife in horror. It seemed that the entire tribe was falling apart at the seams. And she alone was left to try and hold things together. It was a thankless job and Melaryn was beginning to feel like she just wasn't up to the challenge.

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The room smelled of despair and something akin to death. The body on the large ornate bed was sweating profusely and it's skin was sickly gray in pallor. The other ones weren't sick, at least not in body.

But Yamina took one look at Melaryn's normally pristine features and knew that something dreadful had happened. The warrior was normally immaculate in her appearance. In fact, throughout her entire life with the tribe Yamina didn't think that she had ever seen the warrior with one single hair out of place.

Yet such was not the case tonight. Her platinum locks were disheveled and tangled, almost like she had been sleeping in a pile of rubbish. Her normally finely tailored warrior's garb had been replaced with soft blue velvet-like pants and a comfortably large red synthetic sweater.

Yamina didn't think she had ever seen Melaryn wear anything but thigh-high leather boots. But tonight, the warrior was wearing a soft cloth navy slipper. She looked sad and tired. And Yamina's heart went out to her.

But she tried to keep her feelings in check. And yet tonight, she knew it was going to be doubly as hard. Because tonight she wasn't dealing with Melaryn the warrior. She was dealing with the woman.

And as much as she hated to admit it, even during this time of obvious crisis, she felt herself still powerfully attracted to the warrior. Even though her golden eyes were tired and sore, to Yamina, they still flashed with unrelenting beauty. Her clothing hugged every single curve of her body. And much to her shame, Yamina found herself very much enjoying the view.

In fact, it wasn't until Neisha cleared her throat that she even remembered someone else was in the room. She had to pull herself together. She wasn't here to ogle Melaryn. But in all honesty, Yamina didn't really know why she was there.

She looked over at Neisha and found a soft smile adorning the woman's features. Neisha was always so kind, even to her. And it was sad really. Neisha knew of her open unfailing attraction to her warrior-wife.

But still the woman was always courteous with her. Even though Yamina always got the impression that Neisha treated her as little more then a wayward child. And given the scant difference in their respective ages Yamina always found that to be a bit insulting.

Yet tonight, Yamina couldn't begrudge the woman her insults. Neisha looked just as tired and desperate as her wife. And Yamina knew why. They were trying to take care of Kellis and given their current states of stress, she could only assume that things weren't going well.

Neisha, who was normally the perfect picture of sweet jungle beauty, was now gaunt and pale. Taking care of Kellis had clearly worn her down. And Yamina could easily understand why. The two had been at it non-stop for days now. They had never even taken a substantial break. And the fatigue was clearly taking its toll.

Neisha's eyes were a bright orange from an obvious bought of crying. Her hair, which was normally bouncy and finely styled, had fallen limp against her face. Her make-up had long ago worn-off leaving only the palest of impressions behind. And her short form-fitting white dress was filled with stains that Yamina didn't even want to try to identify.

Suddenly, Yamina began to feel a bit suffocated. Every single curtain was drawn tightly shut. The windows were closed cutting off any natural ventilation. And Yamina could instantly tell from the sweltering heat that for whatever reason, Melaryn had disconnected the Lodge's cool air service.

The room was ripe with many different overpowering and grisly stenches. And Yamina didn't know how long she would be able to tolerate the aroma. But she knew she had to stay. After all, Melaryn herself had summoned her.

Carefully, she moved closer to the bed. Every light in the room was off except for a small reading lamp hung high above the bed. It was only because of her native jungle vision that she was able to tell that Kellis was nude. She supposed it was for health reasons. Had she been wearing any clothing at all she surely would have sweat through them by now.

Nervously, she looked around for some place to sit. But the only pieces of furniture in the room seemed to be the bed and the chair that Melaryn was currently occupying. Yamina knew that they had moved Kellis to the oldest and most remote part of the Lodge, for obvious logical reasons. Right now, they all needed to keep a low profile.

But Yamina was beginning to think that this was all a bit ridiculous. She didn't even know that the Lodge housed rooms this sparsely and poorly decorated. The carpet was at least one hundred years old. The wood frame of the bed was chipped and coming apart in huge chunks. And even the chair that Melaryn was using was ripped apart in several places.

"I know... It's hardly premier accommodations but it's serving our purpose." Neisha began as she noticed the weary way that Yamina was glancing about the room.

"We need to ask you about Elila." Neisha said after a long pause.

She had visually searched the room for some place that Yamina could sit down and relax a bit. But the only place to do that was the bed. And although it didn't bother her, she doubted that Yamina would feel comfortable sitting down next to a very naked Kellis.

Yamina hadn't been trained in any of the healing arts and it was quite obvious that naked warrior hybrids were quite a mystery to her. Yamina was notoriously shy. But the way that her eyes darted around the room to strategically avoid Kellis' naked form left even Melaryn a bit amused.

"When is the last time that you saw Elila?" Neisha asked following through on what she and her wife had earlier discussed.

Wisely they realized that Yamina got quite tongue-tied whenever she had to speak directly to the warrior. Given that time was of the offense, they decided that it would be better if Melaryn remained silent and let her wife handle things.

"Yesterday morning... It was right before the banquet. We went outside right after the award's ceremony. I told her that I was ill and wouldn't be able to go to the banquet. I haven't seen her since then." Yamina answered barely able to stand the flying of her internal butterflies. Being this close to Melaryn was simply her undoing.

"Oh my god! It's been almost two days then!" Neisha whimpered out as she looked at the rising digits on the digital clock.

It wouldn't be long before the approaching dawn. The sun would soon rise. And it would hallmark day number two of Elila's absence.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Melaryn snapped angered by Yamina's obvious dereliction in sensibilities.

Yamina's eyes widened in abject fright at the harsh tone and the girl seemed to visually sink inside herself. She watched as Neisha appeared to visually scold her wife. And then the gentle woman settled her gaze on Yamina, trying desperately to silently reassure her.

"It's okay, Yamina. It's not your job to keep track of Elila's whereabouts. Have you heard from her? What about her personal comm? Have you been able to reach her that way?" Neisha asked hoping that the heron had simply run off again.

It wouldn't be the first time that Elila had ditched her jungle cat duties to return to the swamp. And though Neisha didn't understand such an obvious deplorable action, she still hoped that this time, that was the case. Because if not, Neisha didn't even want to begin to guess what could have happened to the heron here in the Gallion Village.

"No, I tried reaching her. But she left her personal comm in the room. I even tried contacting some places that she likes to frequent. But no one has heard from her." Yamina answered with a sorrowful note.

Melaryn and Neisha exchanged desperate glances each hoping that the other had an answer to their obvious dilemma. Thash was expecting a communication from her daughter. And neither of them had any idea what to do.

"There is one thing though." Yamina idled hesitant to share this information with the other two women.

"What?" Melaryn snapped needing any possible help.

"I queried her ID with the Gallion's main information system. You know how Thash would never consent to having her cyber chipped? Well uh, anyways, according to their system she's been on an transport for the last seven hours." Yamina answered watching as a confused look overshadowed both of the women's features.

"I talked to a service representative. They said it wasn't a system error. They said this is a common occurrence when someone loses their purse on a transport or... they're mugged." Yamina answered relaying all the information that she had received.

"There's something else." Yamina said capturing both the warrior and the wife's attention.

"Halauris and Lineva have been waiting nearly two days to speak with Kellis. They say the information is urgent. They won't tell me what it is. But in a moment of unaccompanied weakness, Halauris did tell me something." Yamina confessed with downcast eyes.

"What?" Neisha asked with a rising fear threatening to suffocate her beating heart.

"She said that this news...she said it has to do with Elila." Yamina answered watching as both women visibly reacted.

They both knew that the information Lineva had to give couldn't be good. No one incessantly waited for two days merely to comment on the fineness of things. Something dreadful had happened to the heron.

And Melaryn suspected that if that were true that even if Kellis did live through her current predicament she would never survive Thash's wrath. It wasn't even the loss or an injury to Elila that would anger the tribal alpha. It was the loss of the throne.

If something had happened to Elila then Thash would surely lose power. And if that wretched thing truly had transpired, Melaryn knew that there was no place far enough for Kellis to go. She would be a marked woman. And her death would have a price.

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"I don't understand." Lineva said as if it was the most common statement in the world. But it wasn't. And everyone in the room knew it to be true.

Melaryn had herded the quiet warrior and her attending lady companion as far from Kellis as the Lodge would allow. She had taken them back to her private quarters. And there in the presence of her wife she told them time and time again that Kellis was not available under any circumstance.

First, she had told them that Kellis had merely taken ill. But Halauris was far too connected to the rumor mill to simply believe that. She knew that something else was going on.

Then she had tried to convince them that Kellis had temporarily abdicated her authority. Melaryn affirmed for them that she was now in charge of the tribe. But that only made Halauris more curious and Lineva more nervous.

The quiet warrior wanted answers. Whatever news she had to give was truly eating away at her. And Melaryn didn't think that she could handle much more of this mutual avoidance of the issue at hand.

They would politely ask again and again when they could speak with Kellis. And she would clumsily respond with whatever vague half-truth she could volley back to them. The whole thing was making her anxious and quite annoyed.

"You can't speak to Kellis! No one can! Not even us." Neisha finally snapped clearly tiring of this game as well.

"That doesn't make any sense." Lineva said figuring that the golden warrior had sent Melaryn in her place. She and Halauris had spent the better part of an hour trying to talk their way into Kellis' inner chamber. But something here just didn't feel right.

"My wife is right. For reasons we can't explain Kellis is unavailable, even to us. You'll have to trust me." Melaryn answered using her best commanding tone.

Though she was technically second in charge behind Kellis, it had been awhile since she needed to use her authority. She had gotten used to being second chair. And now that she was once again in the hot seat she found herself struggling to adjust to the sudden pressure.

"All right... it's just that... it's just that there's no easy way to say this." Lineva said suddenly finding the sight of her tattered boots to be far more interesting then the faces of those around her.

"Just tell them! We've all waited long enough." Halauris snapped surprising everyone with her tone.

No one ever expected the young jungle cat to be quite so commanding. But it would seem that the events of late had affected her in unforeseen ways. And Halauris was changing right before everyone's eyes.

Lineva didn't begrudge the girl her short temper. Halauris had been through more in one lone night then most women survived in a lifetime. And truthfully, Lineva was proud of the young socialite's courage.

But now she needed to find her own strength. And as the minutes ticked by, it seemed to be dwindling. Her heart was hammering in her chest. She tried to mentally control the responses of her body. All warriors learned such techniques when they began to study the art of battle and the form of the hunt.

And yet now, her body was responding like she was nothing more then some novice kitten out to find her first blood. Her hands were shaking. And she grew dizzier by the moment.

At any moment she expected her body to fall over right onto the floor. She would lie there like some coward huddled at Melaryn's feet. She couldn't let that happen. She had to stay strong. She couldn't let this burden be Halauris' alone.

But she knew the importance of this moment. These were quite possibly the most important words that she would ever say. This was the day that the tribe would change forever.

This was the day that new battle lines would be drawn in the sand. Old enemies would be exchanged for those of new. A great and mighty war would rage. And it would all be because of the one sentence that she had yet to impart.

She looked at Neisha and saw a whirlwind of anxiety and desperation. Whatever had really happened to Kellis was clearly taking a toll on the devoted wife of the golden warrior's best friend. The woman was already clearly in a state. Lineva suspected that this news might just push her right over the edge.

Then there was Melaryn who seemed to already sense the gravity of the situation. She was bracing herself with a steely stance and cold hard stare. She had been a warrior far too long not to recognize the prominent signs and symptoms of disaster.

And then, her gaze fell to Halauris. The girl was exhausted and clearly feeling a bit temperamental. But nonetheless, she smiled at the quiet warrior. It wasn't a smile of joy or even happiness. It was one of support. It was a gesture from one comrade to another. It spoke of strength in unity. And again, Lineva was utterly grateful for the girl's presence and support.

She mustered her courage and screwed her faith. She was about to become the center of tribal attention. And it wasn't going to be pleasant. From this point on she would forever be known as the warrior who had cost Thash the throne.

Lineva realized that there was a very real possibility that she would be banished. But there was nothing that she could do about that. Now was the time for honesty and tragedy. And so, with one last glance at Halauris she opened her mouth to give the news that would tear through the tribe like an exploding tornado.

"Elila is dead." Lineva said carefully watching the expressions of both her companions.

Melaryn seemed least shocked by the news. Her eyes fell closed for only a moment. But her body never moved. She had known all along that this was indeed a possibility.

Even Halauris seemed a bit surprised. Although why exactly Lineva couldn't be sure. Halauris had been there from the very beginning. But it was the first time they had truly said the words aloud.And now, the young jungle cat seemed to be silently reeling from their impact.

But it was Neisha who collapsed under the strain. Oh she didn't fall into unconsciousness or the quiet hysteria of tears. She immersed herself in outrage and shock. And she went after Lineva like she was the red bulls eye for the very point of her volcanic anger.

"NO!!! YOU'RE LYING!!!" Neisha screamed moving within striking distance of the warrior.

Lineva had forgotten that at one time, Neisha and Elila had been quite close. It had been before the birth of Neisha's children. The woman had had more time to socialize then.

Since her settlement into married life, Neisha had pulled away from most of her friendships and socializing in general. Her schedule simply did not permit it. But Lineva knew that Neisha still associated with the heron at all tribal social gatherings. And sometimes when the married couple wanted to have a true night of fun they would drag Kellis and Elila along as well.

It would appear that despite their apparent lack of timely and frequent closeness, Neisha still very much considered Elila her friend. And the news was clearly devastating the small fragile nerves that she had left. Within the blink of an eye, Neisha had launched herself right into the air.

She performed a superb aerial attack so splendid any warrior would have been proud to claim her native skill as their own. But Neisha was no warrior. She was simply a shattered friend. There was no skill or real strength behind the blows she landed on Lineva's body. There was only raw emotion powering every single one of the misplaced hits.

"You're LYING!" Neisha screamed over and over until finally her wife pulled her away. It wasn't an easy feat though. Melaryn had to hold her wife suspended in the air as Neisha kicked, screamed, punched, and all out cursed every single other person in attendance.

"She's not lying Neisha. I saw it happen. I saw it with my own eyes. I'm sorry... I'm so very sorry... We tried to save her. I tried...I tried to get help but no one would... Lineva came but by then...it was all too late. I saw the whole thing happen. She's gone. There was...there was nothing that we could do." Halauris said giving her words through a steady stream of hysterics and tears.

The young cat's words seem to do the trick. Neisha stopped her struggling and finally seemed to accept the truth. But she didn't take the news with any modicum of calm or even grief. Instead, she seemed to slip even deeper into rage. Yet this time, she had traded her boiling anger in for ice-cold rage. And even Melaryn found herself a bit unsettled by the strange metamorphoses that had befallen her wife.

"How?" Neisha snapped finally managing to force her wife to put her back down onto the ground.

"Honey, maybe you should wait out..." Melaryn began trying to extricate her wife from a situation that she obviously found intolerable.

"Don't even think of it!" Neisha commanded not caring at all for matters of courtesy.

Her emotions were running to high for that. Melaryn seemed to wisely choose to back off for the present moment. Neisha was clearly beside herself with grief. And Melaryn didn't want to push her wife.

"It was a cobra. She was poisoned with venom." Lineva said watching as both warrior and wife reeled in shock.

Neither of them had been expecting that. There were many ways to die in the Gallion Village. But death by cobra was something her tribal protectors should have been able to prevent.

"She turned blue and suffocated right before our very eyes. We wanted to bring her body back. But a shark got to her first." Halauris added letting her eyes tear up with the fresh and painful memory.

"Shark?" Melaryn screamed suddenly realizing that this whole situation had gotten even worse.

Thash was awaiting a call from her daughter. But instead, it was Melaryn who would have to speak to the tribal alpha. And it was a conversation that would shift the very tenuous balance of power within the tribe.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 24

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The room was dark and suffocating. The air was old and stale. And Zelsi was beginning to think that she wasn't going to be able to tolerate it for a single moment longer.

She never understood why the Dragon insisted on conducting even the simplest of business with such pomp and circumstance. But then again, she supposed that when it came to the Dragon, there was no such thing as a simple matter. And when she truly gave the matter some thought, she realized that the news she had come to deliver certainly deserved a bit of ceremony. After all, it wasn't every day that the sole inheritor to the Fasara throne turned up dead.

The smallest of sparks could be seen on the distant wall. And Zelsi knew the ceremony was soon to begin. She had only dealt with the Dragon on scant few occasions.

But each time the ritual had been the same. First came the sparking of the candles. And then, it was the lighting of every single one of the innumerous white votives. To this day she had no idea how such a seemingly magical feat was accomplished. And she was far too jaded to believe in such things like mysticism.

Once the candles were lit the shimmering screen would lower revealing the image of the red fire-breathing dragon. The candles would only ever serve to illuminate the fine etching and artistic design of the screen. And though Zelsi had limited knowledge of things like artistry and design, even she had to admit that it was magnificent.

The screen was comprised of a material wholly alien to her. It had the appearance of being as thin and fragile as silk. And yet it shimmered like only the most highly advanced hologram could.

But she had put her hands on its surface. It was comprised of something far stronger then silk. It would always give gently into her questioning touch. Yet, it would never allow her to reach beyond its face.

Its only function was to deceive her with its grand surface and painted design. And the design did intrigue her. It was a beautifully stitched red dragon straight out of human mythology. The hybrids had little need for things like fables and fairytales. Their very existence was mythic enough.

She stood back and watched as the familiar screen was finally revealed. She brazenly walked over to it ignoring the Dragon's previously mumbled request for distance. That visit had taken place long ago. Now she felt a little proximity was in order.

"You've summoned me?" The familiar neutral tones of the speaker called out to her.

Instinctually, Zelsi turned letting her jungle eyes search the darkened room for the stereo equipment that must be hidden. She had searched for it before. And this time was no different. She still couldn't find it.

There was no reason why locating a mere speaker or voice amplifier should cause her such distress. Locating this piece of technology would put her no closer to finally discovering the Dragon's identity. She just had this innate craving to put her hands on it. She wanted to touch the source of the Dragon's commands.

All the Dragon ever did was command her and order her about. But she had no idea what manner of creature she was even working for. The Dragon fully disguised her voice through the use of electronics and tone amplifiers.

The technological result was a voice that betrayed no accent or inflection. It was the result of a speaking computer. And it bothered Zelsi to not even have the slightest modicum of closeness from her most recent of employers.

If she could even hear the shortest of native tones then perhaps she would at least be able to identify the Dragon's tribe of origin. Maybe the Dragon would speak with the humble yet aristocratic lilt of a highborn jungle cat. Perhaps the Dragon would sneer and bark her words like a pureblooded wolf hybrid. Or perhaps she would even hear the familiar lisp of deadly snake.

But Zelsi realized that this speculation would get her nowhere. The Dragon's identity was and would most likely always remain a mystery to her. And that was something that she would just have to accept.

Although the concubine did have to admit that there was a certain of romanticism to the whole thing. Not knowing the smallest of details about the Dragon's appearance did everything to enhance her sexual fantasies.

She had imagined pleasuring the Dragon in a multitude of different guises. She had imagined the Dragon in the form of everything from a lion to a stallion. It really didn't matter what image the Dragon took in her mind. It was the imaginary process itself that served to fuel all her innermost desires.

"I have to come to bring you some news. I think you'll find it very interesting." Zelsi muttered as she reached out with her palms.

She placed the flat of her hands on the surface of the border between them. She ran her hands up and down searching for some clue. All she wanted was some form of contact. She wanted to feel the heat of the Dragon's breath. Or sense the location of the Dragon's presence. She hated this distance and this lack of contact.

It was entirely unacceptable to her. It was her very nature to crave such things. Zelsi supposed that that was why she made such an excellent concubine. She had a raw and ever present need for the tactile.

She truly didn't care if she never knew who or what the Dragon really was. But she ached of the touch of this mysterious hybrid. She had to feel the hands of the person that commanded her so justly. Zelsi had to know the feel of her skin, then and only then would she feel complete.

"Don't waste my time. You know how dangerous that can be. Tell me what you have come to say and then get out!" The Dragon snapped.

The command sounded even more intimidating when issued through the monochromatic tones of a computer. And Zelsi felt her skin tingle at the thought of the threat. Any attention from the Dragon, whether it be negative or positive, was always worth it to her.

"It's about Elila. She's dead." Zelsi said without preamble or illustration.

She never liked the heron. And she made no secret of it. In fact, she was glad that Elila was gone. It would make dealing with Kellis so much more interesting.

"Are you certain? Absolutely certain? There can be no room for error." The Dragon asked in a way that let Zelsi know just how much her news had been appreciated.

The young concubine stretched out her form in a long and luxurious manner. The Dragon was clearly pleased with her news. And Zelsi was wondering if it wasn't about time that she asked for a reward.

"Positive. This comes from a very reliable source. Though I can't imagine that Thash knows yet. We would have heard the explosions, even from down here." Zelsi said laughing a bit at what was clearly on the horizon. This little bit of news was going to rip Thash's world right in two.

"Well done Zelsi. This changes everything. I think it's best if we moved up our timeline." The Dragon said referring to the plans that their hidden movement had endeavored to keep secret from every other hybrid on the planet.

"Before you return to the surface speak with Orica. I have a new assignment for you." The Dragon ordered already preparing to send the young concubine topside.

"Of course, but first I wanted to ask you something." Zelsi began.

She clasped her hands together and bounced back onto her heels. She took the posture of an excited child all the while aware of the fact that her breasts were flopping about with each move that she made. She only hoped that the Dragon was somehow able to see it.

"Dragon?" She asked when no response came after several lengthy minutes of bouncing silence.

She called for her commander one more time but still, she garnered no answer. The Dragon had left without so much as a goodbye or parting word. It wasn't particularly uncommon but Zelsi was disappointed nonetheless.

She wanted so much more from the Dragon. She just didn't know how to go about getting it. Because with this distance and barricade between them her normal sexual charms had been rendered useless. It was beginning to seem like for once in her life she was actually going to have to rely on something other then her sexuality. And frankly, Zelsi found that entire concept to be quite repugnant.

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The transport cruised at top speeds thoroughly illegal in every single part of the kingdom. But they had no choice at the moment. And no one would dare to impede their approach. The Queen herself had summoned them.

They had already traveled a great distance but even now, they were still an hour outside of the royal court. The journey had been one of pure silence. They were virtual strangers to each other. And essentially, they were enemies. It was only for the sheer fact that they were both under royal summons to appear before the Queen herself that they had somehow managed to sit amicably together.

Carielle knew that Pedryn must be out of her mind with worry. The last person she had spoken to was Elila. And when she had left the Fluid she had clearly not been in the best of states.

In fact, she had been inconsolable with grief and soul-wrenching pain. She had gone out into the Gallion Ocean seeking the solace that only the water could provide. But comfort was something elusive to her.

Somehow, she had eventually managed to pull herself together. Her tears had stopped. Her breathing had slowed. And she had found herself finally ready to face both Pedryn and the rest of the Midali tribe.

But as she swam closer to shore she saw the familiar yet shocking outline of a landing royal transport. She thought that surely it was Pedryn who had been summoned. Yet it was she that the Queen had sent for. And Carielle had spent the last five hours trying to figure out why.

She had never been to the royal court before. And the trip there was slowly grating away the last few remaining nerves that she had left. She was beginning to think that at any moment she would surely burst of anticipation. Yet she knew this trip wasn't one of pleasure or joy. Something was terribly wrong if the Queen had moved so quickly and with such stealth. But for now, all Carielle could do was sit and wait through this terrible feeling that something horribly dreadful had befallen the kingdom.

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"You know I heard at one point in history that this entire continent was completely uninhabited. Apparently, it was the only place on Earth untouched by the humans and their ecological scourge." Carielle muttered hoping to engage her silent companion in some small talk. This trip wouldn't be quite so tense if they could just somehow learn to cooperate.

"I think they called it Antarctica. Although, I have to admit that my study of human history is a bit lax. I seem to remember reading though that to them, this whole place was just one giant sheet of ice. Can you imagine? Such a large and fertile piece of land and they didn't even live on it?" Carielle added still noting that her companion seemed to want to have absolutely nothing to do with her.

"You know, I think that's why the first Queen chose to build the royal court here. It was the only place on Earth untouched by their disease, waste, and science. It was pure, pure like the driven snow..." Carielle said laughing a bit at her own attempt to use a human euphemism. It wasn't like her to ramble on so much. She was just so nervous. She couldn't even begin to imagine what it was that the Queen wanted from her.

"Do you always choose to bore your company to death? Or is this just something special for me?" The formerly silent wolf hybrid asked.

Carielle was a bit startled by the sound of the other warrior's voice. Wolves always unsettled her. They all spoke with this low hissing rumble. She had heard women comment on how they found the effect sexy.

She however remained disenchanted by the fluctuating vocal chords. She had a personal problem with wolves. Her tribe didn't. Wolves and sharks had very little cause to intermingle.

The nearest wolf territory was an entire ocean away from the Midali Wetlands. They weren't exactly the type of tribes that constantly bumped into each other. But even though they weren't enemies, they certainly weren't friends.

The Midali were notorious about keeping to themselves. But the wolves were unabashedly one of the most popular tribes in all the kingdom. They were known as social predators. And boasted solid allies on every single continent. On the land, in the air, or even in the sea the wolves had friends. And in some way, Carielle saw the wisdom behind their behavior.

All wolf tribes were revered throughout the entire kingdom for their ability to play nice with others. There were only a handful of tribes in all the world that had been unable to maintain peaceful negotiations with the wolves. Carielle knew for a fact that the Fasara happened to be one of those tribes. Apparently there was a natural rivalry between the two that all the best intentions in the world couldn't unravel.

Once, Carielle had heard one of their own tribal scientists attempt to give a thorough explanation. Pedryn had at one time considered proposing a peace treaty with the wolves. After all, the enemy of thy enemy is thy friend.

The scientist had explained that most of the modern day wolf-hybrids were a result of centuries of genetic evolution in a somewhat reverse manner. Apparently, when the humans spanned the globe their constant companion was the dog. Which was an animal bred down throughout time from its original wolf ancestor.

But now, the reverse was in fact happening. The more docile and domesticated dog traits had virtually vanished from the wolf lineage. Instead, the more ferocious wolf characteristics had begun to emerge. Entire chromosomes had been recovered that at one time were thought extinct.

Apparently, the entire wolf tribe of the Siberian plain claimed their ancestry from a one time extinct breed. The humans killed off many of the animal species that they were just now beginning to recover. Carielle knew that many types of sharks were lost to the humans. Her own ancestors, the great white, had been endangered long before the Great War.

It made her terribly sad to think of it...all those animals that had suffered and died. It was a time from long ago. But if she thought of it and truly remembered all that had been destroyed, she would openly weep for everything that had been lost.

They had nearly destroyed the planet and cut a wide swathe through its natural and defenseless inhabitants. And Carielle was glad that the humans were now extinct. In way, it did seem only fair.

"Do you have any idea why we've been summoned?" The wolf asked glaring at the shark through her lilac tinted sunshades. The light was always so unbearable at the royal kingdom. The sun would reflect in endless and eternal patterns right off the ever present snow and ice.

"No, none. I'm Carielle by the way." The shark added feeling somewhat skittish under the wolf's velvet gaze.

The sensation was ridiculous. She was a Midali warrior. The blood of the sea roared through her veins.

She had nothing to fear from a lone wolf. But she just couldn't seem to quell her physiological response. Her heart hammered in her chest. Her palms would sweat. And her eyes would dart around the solid gray transport looking for some avenue of escape. Plainly, she disliked wolves. Though there was simply no reason for it.

"I know who you are. You know rumor has it that if Pedryn doesn't get herself a woman you may end up leading the tribe. You can't take control of the throne if you have no intention of producing an heir. Isn't that how your tribe works?" The wolf asked allowing her long dark hair to flow around her shoulders. This hybrid was clearly more versed on Midali relations then Carielle had ever imagined. And she found this sudden wealth of information to be quite...unsettling.

"Well, I don't know where you get you rumors from but that's not true. Pedryn will lead the tribe. That's what she's been raised to do. As for an heir, who knows? Pedryn's still young. She could meet someone." Carielle answered giving away far more information then she ever intended. It wasn't like her to be quite so lose-lipped. But this hybrid was having strange and frightening effects on her.

"I see. In case you're wondering it's called cynophobia." The wolf said leaving the shark aching in confusion.

"Excuse me?" Carielle asked trying her best to put some firmness into her tone. But it was no use. Her useless fear was blaringly apparent.

"Cynophobia. It's an intense fear of canines. And although I myself am personally not a descendent of dogs. It would appear that your psyche cares not to make the distinction between a dog and wolf. Must be some sort of defect left over from a rogue human chromosome." The wolf explained all the while smiling rather widely. Proudly, she showed off the large and quite imposing gleam of her distended canines.

Patiently the wolf sat there and waited for some form of response. She really hadn't meant to offend the shark so grievously. It simply amused her that she frightened a mighty great white Midali.

"You shouldn't look quite so pleased with yourself." Carielle muttered in what she hoped was a low imposing threat. But the wolf only laughed, clearly not believing the shark's posturing for one single moment.

"Icelyn." Was the only response that the wolf gave.

"Excuse me?" Carielle snapped back trying her best to intimidate with her voice. But all the while her body tried desperately to sink deeper into the gray seat behind.

"Icelyn. My name is Icelyn. Although, I usually prefer to simply be called Ice. It seems to suite me." The wolf explained finally removing her eyewear.

Carielle gazed into the eyes of a social predator that she couldn't ever hope to tolerate. Because that's when she realized where her fear stemmed from. It was the cold bleak white silver orbs that this wolf used for eyes.

She had once heard that wolves could see so clearly at night that to them, the moon shone as brightly as the sun. And now the shark could fully understand that statement. There was nothing normal about the abject stare of a wolf. In fact, it made Carielle feel like she was gazing into the long night of an icy abyss.

Before she knew it, the mighty shark was trembling in her boots. She wanted off of this transport. She needed an escape from the hybrid at her side before she ripped the very transport apart with the raw strength in her own shark limbs. She was slowly losing control. And if she didn't manage to reign in her fear, Carielle was intensely worried that she would succumb to only the most inappropriate of bloodlusts.

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"My Specter, you've arrived." The soft voice of the Queen called out.

The only other hybrid in the room bowed courteously and loyally at the tone of her royal commander. It didn't matter to her that it was only the Queen's back that she faced. It didn't matter to her that the Queen didn't even witness her act of obedience. She was a loyal servant to the kingdom. And she took great pride in every single one of her actions.

"The ice flows are particularly beautiful this time of year. They make my heart joyful." The Queen commented never once betraying anything other then a perfectly aristocratic tone.

Slowly, the Specter turned slightly so that she too could witness the same sight as the Queen. She didn't have far too go. The inner throne room was four solid walls of glass. And it provided a lush and spectacular view of the floating icebergs as they flowed into the changing sea.

At first blush, the Specter had been uneasy of allowing the Queen to construct a throne room so terribly visible and unguarded. But the Queen's lust for ice would not be denied. And even though Queen lived on a continent covered in frozen sheets of it, she was rarely allowed beyond the walls of her warm castle.

All she wanted was a view of it and that of the sea. She wanted a place to go where she could be alone. She needed a place where her multitude of aids wouldn't dare to follow. She craved the solitude of a room that she could call her own.

So her dutiful servant had constructed a private throne room, one that didn't show up on any topographical survey or blueprint of the castle. It was the Queen's most guarded secret. And only a select few people even knew of its existence.

The room had been carefully hidden behind towering walls of frozen ice and thickened snow. Even a flying transport would never discern its presence from the rest of the continent's frozen tundra. The Queen was surely hidden, of that the Specter had made absolute certain of.

But today, the Queen appeared to be not only alone but lonely as well. Her youthful features were full of sorrow. And even though her body stood tall and proud, it did little mask her exhaustion.

A less discerning visitor would never have noticed. But the Queen couldn't fool the Specter. They had been acquainted for far too long. And even though she was deliberately trying to hide her fatigue, the Specter had noticed the shallowness of her breath and the slight tremble of her hand.

"Come your highness, allow me to assist you." The Specter said with only the utmost of respect.

She reached out trying to gently take the Queen's hand in her own. But the royal woman standing before her only pulled away in open frustration. She hated being coddled. And the Specter knew that. But there were times when she couldn't help herself.

"If I should require your assistance I will ask for it." The Queen said not bothering to disguise the chiding to her tone.

"Yes your highness. I am sorry." The Specter responded immediately apologizing for the error in her behavior. But the Queen only acknowledged her Specter's words with a gentle nod of her head.

Truly, the Specter wondered what it was that had her mistress so troubled. If anything, the Queen was renowned for her joyful and gentle spirit. This behavior was truly out of the ordinary.

"I am only tired. I did not sleep well during the previous moon. In fact, I did not sleep at all." The Queen confessed finally turning away from the window.

Slowly, she began the short walk back to her silvery throne. To anyone else, the walk would have taken a mere two to three steps to complete. But to the Queen, the walk was long and hard and thoroughly exhausting to her bones.

She wasn't particularly proud, despite any protests that the Specter might give to the contrary. She simply saw no cause to ask for the assistance of her humble and loyal servant. She could make it back just find on her own, eventually...

The Specter watched as the Queen moved with careful steps ever closer to her waiting throne. With her, the Queen carried the most beautiful scepter in all the world. It was constructed of hand-blown glass, molded steel, and the finest diamonds in all the land. Legend had it that the scepter sparkled so brightly at night it could be seen from a distance, just like a twinkling star.

But this Queen had a dual purpose for the mythic scepter that she had inherited from her predecessor. To her, it was a lifeline. And she used it as a cane to guide her footsteps across the smooth and slippery floor.

The Queen was young but her body betrayed the ailments of one much older. Her teenage body was riddled with afflictions that no one should ever have to suffer. But even though her form was hobbled and her body crippled, the Specter believed that no one else in the entire world could hold a candle to the Queen's beauty.

The Queen had a lithe frame that illustrated her native owl heritage in bold vibrance. Even now, her facial features were strong and chiseled like those of her ancient feathery ancestors. But her hair was a peculiar shade of dyed red. Her own natural locks had turned stark gray some time around her eighth birthday. She hated appearing older then her years. So the Queen had wisely chosen to turn back the hands of time.

But even still, the Specter found that the Queen's dark eyes would blaze with a beautiful knowledge. Her lips were modest but always serene. And her breasts were ample in their femininity. Sometimes, the Specter got nervous from simply staring at the Queen for too long a time. The servant would become resolutely convinced that her royal mistress could somehow discern the nature of her wholly inappropriate thoughts.

Yet, it made her terribly sad to think that at one point in time the Queen would have been ridiculed and ostracized for her appearance. The humans would have called her retarded, never looking past the limping form of her body. The hybrids stoutly ignored her mismatched limbs and her slurred speech. They ignored the occasional spot of drool because they knew her mouth only overflowed with the words of wisdom. They ignored the strange shape of her wide eyes because they knew that she saw only the truth. They cared not what appearance her body held because it was her mind that the kingdom relied on.

The Specter knew that she could search the entire planet and never find anyone as intelligent as Queen Welaria. The Queen's intelligence was beyond compare. Her astounding intellect was the one treasure that the humans had given them. Welaria inherited her mental gifts from the Queen before. She was created from the perfect fusion of intellect and wisdom. And no one in the kingdom would dare to dispute her rule.

"Please, sit down." The Queen said finally settling into her silver throne piled high with only the softest white silk cushions ever created.

"Thank you, your highness." The Specter answered moving onto the large white sofa facing the throne.

Uncomfortably, the servant looked around the room. She was always a bit uneasy when she was alone for any length of time with the Queen. At times, Welaria would turn the deep penetration of her mental acuity onto those around her. And it never ceased to humble the Specter when she found herself the subject of the Queen's analysis.

The room itself wasn't terribly intimidating or royal in its design. Everything within it was white or silver, to match the surrounding snow. And the room was certainly less formal then the official and well known throne room.

Besides the throne and the sofa, there were several other strategically placed chairs lying about. There was a desk containing mountains of the Queen's work yet to be completed. But she also knew that somewhere in the floorboards lied a small hidden stereo, the Queen one luxury and only escape from the never-ending gruel of running the entire animal kingdom.

"Did you have trouble coming here? I know it is not an easy task to sneak on and off of the Changing Grounds without detection." The Queen asked motioning to the glass walls behind.

Behind that glass and its snowy cocoon lay the Royal Kingdom. This large and bustling town was not only the most densely populated but also the richest tribe in the entire world. The Changing Grounds were home to an eclectic band of individuals who had all come to serve the Queen or the kingdom in one fashion or another.

And being as such, they were the primary conduit for any activity within any realm of the Animal Kingdom. So because of the Queen and the sensitive activities that were conducted within the kingdom, they were the most fiercely guarded tribe on the entire planet. And coming to the Queen's aid without detection was proving to be a challenging task for even someone with the Specter's considerable skills.

"The usual difficulties were entertained." The Specter answered slowly finding the synthetic of her clothing to be most constricting.

The Queen smiled as she watched her servant fumble about in her seat. Though twice her age, the Queen often felt like the Specter was truly the child between them. Her loyal and always anonymous servant could be quite uneasy when she found herself the focus of her royal gaze.

But the Queen never understood such reasoning. The Specter had never disappointed her. There was simply no just cause for such a continual display of anxiousness.

"I apologize your highness. Your summons caught me unexpectedly. If I had known you were going to require my services I would have started the day in a more appropriate attire." The Specter apologized feeling terribly underdressed for a meeting with the Queen.

She had expected to spend the day in training. She had a long journey and a near impossible task ahead of her. She needed to revert to a more patient and persistent pattern. And to do so, she liked to start off every single day with several long hours of punishing and exhausting battle training. Her sense of honor and duty to the kingdom would afford her no other course of action. In the most literal sense, she had been born to serve the Queen.

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Being as such, she had worn her tightest pair of black synthetic pants. She had chosen a small black halter-top to match, which of course left her midriff, inappropriately bare. And her hair, which should be neatly fastened away from her face, was falling down around her in dark swirling spirals.

"You need not concern yourself with such things. The summons could not be helped. We have found more. They arrived just like the others. I'm afraid the death toll has risen." The Queen explained letting her profound sense of sadness fill her large oval eyes.

Instantly, the Specter understood the urgency of the summons. More had been found murdered, just like the others. What they had hoped was nothing more then disputed hunting grounds was slowly turning into an epidemic of catastrophic proportions.

And as she looked up into the face of her ruling mistress, the Specter immediately recognized the real reason for her trip. They just couldn't wait any longer. It was time to move forward with perhaps the most dangerous course of action that their kingdom had ever undertaken. It was finally time to sort through the relics that the humans had left behind.

"The bodies? Where were they found?" The Specter asked never once giving voice to her true grief or haunting fear.

"In the Outlands near Precipice Fall." The Queen answered knowing that her servant was instantly thinking ahead to the duties that she must perform.

"Were there any witnesses?" The Specter asked knowing that either answer to the question she posed would later prove challenging.

Hunting was an avid sport in the Animal Kingdom. Tribes were expected to protect their own. Any killing that occurred was done in the vein of their baser heritage. It wasn't malicious or planned. It was simply predation in its most natural form.

Murder was a concept that died with humanity. The very idea of taking another's life not for sustenance or hunger but for pleasure was an abhorrent concept to the hybrids that now walked the earth. And beyond that, they certainly didn't understand killing done with a weapon.

Their bodies were all the weapon that they needed. They had no use for things like firearms or knives. That's why these killings were so very foreign and obscure. And that's why the Queen had found it necessary to send for the Specter.

"No, we don't believe that there were any witnesses. The nearest tribe is the Dark Nokayans." The Queen answered recalling with ease and mental clarity every bit of information that her sentry had passed on to her.

"A horse tribe?" The Specter asked revealing the fact that her knowledge of the Outlands wasn't exactly perfect. She didn't spend much time there.

In fact, most respectable hybrids didn't. Only the most reclusive and dangerous tribes populated the Outlands. And that's why the Specter found it no great surprise that Black Moon Swamp was quickly becoming the economic powerhouse for the entire Outland continent.

Long ago during the time of the humans, the Specter knew that the Outlands were densely populated and considered to be the practical center of the free world. She thought that she had read once that they had called it the United States. But she couldn't be sure. Her knowledge of ancient human culture was sparse at best.

"Yes... they wander the area from Precipice Fall all the way back to the Blue Diamond. Lucky for us, they were currently on the eastern leg of their journey when the tragedy occurred." The Queen answered smiling a bit at her Specter's question. Her loyal servant prided herself on always being able to research any matter at hand. And the Queen knew that this task lay out before her humble servant was sure to provide her with quite an education.

"Who were the victims?" The Specter asked wondering whom the attacker had found out there in the dessert. Scant few lived in the areas surrounding the Fall. Preying with any amount of anonymity would be a difficult task at best.

"Currently, we are unsure of their exact identities. The bodies were so mutilated that a visual identification would prove useless. We will have to rely on the data from their cyber chips to place them. As we speak, they are being extracted." The Queen explained finding the whole matter to be far too gruesome to contemplate.

"All we know is that they aren't residence of Black Moon." The Queen added knowing that her servant would need that important fact before any investigation could occur.

"How?" The Specter asked missing the pivotal piece of data that Queen Welaria had given her.

"Black Moon has a strict policy on the matter. They stoutly refuse to cyber chip any of their native inhabitants. We can rest assured that these last five victims were not born within the boundaries of Black Moon Swamp." The Queen explained letting her mind go over the thousands of different tribes that the victims could have belonged to.

"What does that bring the death toll up to?" The Specter asked feeling as if someone was slowly punching her in the stomach over and over again.

"Thirty-seven, which we know of. There could be more that we've yet to discover. These ones were found when I sent the sentry to perform a rather unordinary search. When the last ones were discovered I found something odd. There's a pattern to the slayings that I did not discover until it was too late." The Queen said letting her eyes fill with the grief that she was apparently feeling.

"You mustn't blame yourself your highness. I'm sure that you..." The Specter said trying to assuage her royal mistress of the guilt that she was apparently feeling.

"No...this is not the matter that I've brought you here to discuss." Queen Welaria said having no desire to openly converse about her feelings.

"Yes, your highness. The shark and the wolf? Are they on the way?" The Specter asked wondering if the Queen was suddenly having doubts of the course of action that they had earlier planned.

"Yes. But the shark I am still unsure of. The matter lay out before us is one filled with blood and anger. Their bloodlust is notorious. I am concerned that it will interfere with her ability to function in a normal capacity." The Queen said giving voice to an old fear.

Briefly, the Specter wondered if there wasn't more to it then the Queen was revealing. The Queen wasn't prejudiced against any tribe. She led them all with the same justice and fervor for peace that had already become legendary. But the Queen was always reticent when dealing with the Midali. The Specter suspected that deep within the Queen's royal loins hid the older human fear of the sea.

"I understand your highness. And your concerns have merit. But the shark is a necessary component to the investigation at hand. A shark is a virtual scientific laboratory on two legs.
Their hearing and vision is incomparably acute. And their olfactory sense is practically mythic. Carielle will be able to perform in ways that I couldn't even hope to mimic." The Specter said feeling a deep shame that she wasn't born with the skills and advantages of a shark.

"I would still prefer to use Pedryn. I am more familiar with her. I have no previous interaction with Carielle." The Queen said thinking back to her brief exchanges with Pedryn. The alpha shark always made her a bit uneasy. But the Queen trusted her and understood her deep-riding sense of valor.

"I understand your highness. But Pedryn is currently leading the tribe back from the Gallion. And even when she returns I suspect she will be quite busy for some time to come." The Specter explained thinking back to the rumors that she had run across.

"Oh? With what? Please do not tell me that they are preparing to war against the Fasara again? The kingdom cannot tolerate another border dispute. At the present, it would unravel us all." The Queen answered feeling a bit queasy at the thought of having to negotiate yet another treaty with Thash seated at the relative jungle helm.

"Quite the contrary actually. It appears that young Elila has recently come into occurrence with the alpha shark. At first, their meeting was abrupt and impromptu. But it would appear that the beginnings of a relationship are starting to develop." The Specter said pleased that she had least one piece of good news to give to the Queen.

"Are you trying to tell me...? No. That's impossible. The only kind of relationship that those two will ever have is one based on mutual hate and anger. After what happened that night in the Wetlands there really is no other alternative." The Queen said recalling the incident that Thash had tried to keep from her.

"I found it odd myself. So I went to investigate. Don't worry, no one saw me. I know you wanted me to stay away from the Gallion. But I felt that this matter contained the merit of importance." The Specter said inwardly wincing at the Queen's request that she stay out of the Gallion Village.

The Gallion was filled with hybrids from every walk of life and every piece of land, air, and sea throughout the entire planet. Her service to the Queen depended on her ability to remain ghostlike. And traveling to the Gallion was the perfect way to be seen by thousands of hybrids.

"And what did you find?" The Queen asked willing trust that her servant wouldn't have taken such an obvious risk if the situation didn't bear sufficient cause.

"I would use the word love struck to describe Elila. She left the Fluid walking on virtual clouds of romantic ardor. And Pedryn was down right smitten with the girl. You should see her interact with Elila. It's like she's nothing more then some young pup who can't remember how to spell her own name." The Specter said recounting the personal details that she had personally witnessed.

"How is this possible?" The Queen asked not wanting to get her hopes up for possible peace in the jungle. But a union between Pedryn and Elila would solve a violent problem that had plagued the kingdom since its very creation. And the Queen was unwilling to let such an opportunity slip by without doing everything in her power to assure its success.

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"The details I am still unsure of. But it would appear that the forces of fate came forward in the guise of a cobra and found a way to render young Elila unto the care of the Midali. From that point on I am unsure of their personal interaction with each other. I know that Elila came into some information on the true occurrence of the night that she was attacked." The Specter said relaying all the information that she had managed to acquire.

"How? Did Pedryn tell her?" The Queen asked wondering if the alpha shark had swallowed the remainders of her honor and broken her vow of silence.

"No, of that I am certain. All Elila knows is that her parents withheld certain truths. And because of that, she's set course to the Swamp. She's conducting an investigation of her own. And Pedryn is financing it." The Specter said recalling the way that Elila had acquired anonymous passage back to Black Moon.

"What? Why?" The Queen asked allowing her mind to slip into a purely analytical mode.

"It would appear that Pedryn is in quite the rush to have the young heron discover the truth. I believe that she is hoping for forgiveness and perhaps something more..." The Specter answered knowing that her Queen was far too intelligent to need certain facts laid out for her.

"And Elila? How would she feel about such a possibility?" The Queen asked suddenly realizing that perhaps a closed-door meeting with the heron was in strict order.

"All signs seem to indicate that Elila would be most receptive to the idea." The Specter said knowing what this could mean for the Animal Kingdom.

"A union between Pedryn and Elila would be sublime. There would finally be peace between the Fasara and the Midali. All the border disputes could finally be laid to rest. I can't imagine a more perfect form of peaceful negotiation. But what of Kellis? Our sources seemed to indicate that she would wed the young half-breed." The Queen asked trying not to let her hopes soar at the prospect of amicable peace between the sharks and the jungle cats.

"Kellis has gotten herself into a bit of trouble with a young kitten named Narlene. We're not sure how all this is going to turn out. But one thing is positive. When Thash gets a hold of Kellis the result will be quite ugly. I'm not sure that the golden warrior is quite ready to go head to head with the tribal alpha." The Specter said explaining away the somewhat sketchy information she had found on Kellis and her recent romantic dalliances.

"And Pedryn? Is she even in the same league as Thash?" The Queen asked wondering if the alpha shark could survive a direct confrontation with Elila's alpha.

"Yes. All expert opinion indicates that Pedryn would easily triumph. Her scores at the Gallion were amazing. Thash won't pose a problem." The Specter explained knowing that between the three Pedryn was by far the fiercest warrior.

"This opportunity too ripe to allow it to sour. We must assist Elila in her quest. Make sure that doors open for her when she arrives in the swamp. And handle it personally. I don't want anything to go wrong." The Queen said thinking that there was much a royal seal could accomplish in the quest for truth.

"We need to get to her. We need to make her see that between Pedryn and Kellis the former is the better choice. But she can't make such a decision out of duty or desire for simple peace. She needs to believe that it is the best personal choice for her own heart." The Queen said hating the idea of arranging a marriage from afar but knowing that she had no other real choice.

"Yes your majesty. It will be done. I'll see to it personally." The Specter said glad that this one piece of information seemed to have brightened the Queen's features. But the happiness was short lived because now they had to deal with the unpleasantness of murder.

"Were the autopsy results the same as before?" The Specter asked knowing that this was information she had to have before her investigation could begin.

"Yes. The bite marks match no known hybrid on file. It is just as we feared." The Queen answered fully aware that this was not the information that the kingdom needed. A rogue hybrid was stalking their land. And it was going to be up to the Specter to find this changeling before anyone else suffered.

"I brought the recording. I had our people go over it time and time again. But they just can't get any useful scientific data off of it." The Specter said knowing that her royal mistress would want to view this one heirloom of humanity.

"Why did it take so long to decode it? We've had this information for weeks now." The Queen said holding her scepter with a death grip.

Before her crippling had become so severe she had once enjoyed the peace of a good long pace. But now, such an action was dangerous at best. Her only physical outlet for her frustration was to clutch her scepter in a sometimes painful grasp.

"The meeting was recorded on a format known as VHS. According to our data of the time period the humans had taken to using digital recorders. It took quite some doing to get the Natural

Museum to allow us use of their VCR. It was currently on display in their 20th century exhibit. But we made quick work of studying it and built our own. We had it back to them before the very first class of school children even viewed the exhibition." The Specter answered recalling her recent dealings with the museum's curator.

"What was the exact time of the recording?" The Queen asked wondering why it was that they were having to delve into 20th century history to decode its meaning.

"As near as we can tell it was sometime in January of 2004. There's no exact date found in the timestamp." The Specter answered realizing that the date was nearly ancient history to the hybrids that now walked the planet.

"2004... That's nearly three hundred years before the genetic testing supposedly began. And then after that, it was at least another hundred before the first strike of the Great War." The Queen mused realizing that their human predecessors were far more devious then they had ever given them credit for.

"And you're sure about it? The woman on the recording? It's absolute?" The Queen asked hoping that the Specter's initial instincts had been wrong.

"Yes, your highness. We've confirmed it through a thermal graphic analysis of the tape's content. She's a hybrid. But of what type we have no idea." The Specter answered knowing that she was leaving the Queen with only more questions and no answers.

"That's just not possible. The very first hybrid was a shark. And she wasn't created until at least 2354. It's unthinkable that the humans had hybrids before then. They would have declared war much sooner if the option had been available to them. The only reason why they waited as long as they did was because they needed to amass their army of super soldiers." The Queen said explaining all of her logical thoughts on the matter.

"I know your highness. She was a hybrid. But we cannot even begin to speculate as to her animal of origin." The Specter responded wishing that their tracking of human history had been more factual and accurate.

Museums were few and far between. And their history books rarely went back more then a few hundred years. No one wanted to remember the time of the humans. But now, it would appear that they had no choice on the matter.

"I don't even want to guess as to what this could mean." The Queen said knowing that now was not the time to jump to conclusions.

"I know your majesty. But it would seem imperative that we begin tracking down this particular hybrid's lineage. If the humans began genetic testing as early as 2004 there's no telling what they managed to hide from us." The Specter explained already making the necessary mental leap in her mind.

Their history was not as clear as they had previously thought. Their origins weren't as simple as they had once believed. And now they had a rogue hybrid crossing the Outlands leaving a bloody trail in its wake. It matched none of their known predator specifics. And it appeared to be unique in its origin.

But now they also had a recording that had to be dealt with. A lone human relic left over from a time better left forgotten. And in it a lone hybrid was revealed. She was unrecognizable to them but yet she was there. Even though her very existence defied what they had always held sacred about the path of their existence.

"There is one thing your highness. According to the heat her body was generating and the spiking of her internal temperature our scientists have concluded one thing. She was a predator. Her metabolism did reveal that much." The Specter explained knowing that her royal mistress had probably guessed as much.

"Where was this recording found?" The Queen asked never bothering before with the specifics of the issue.

"A group of archeologists found it out in the Dark Sector. Previously, they thought that the war had destroyed any and all signs of life in that quadrant of the Outlands. But it would appear that a few relics survived." The Specter answered pleased in knowing that her Queen was receiving all the relevant information available to her.

"Your highness, I recommend that you send the shark and the wolf after this predator as quickly as possible. They are both experienced hunters. They have skills that I do not possess. Allow them to do what is so very inherent for both of them." The Specter added feeling a strong sense of urgency to the task at hand.

"But your majesty, let me investigate the origins of this tape. If the humans were experimenting with a breed of hybrid wholly unfamiliar to us, we have to know about it." The Specter finished assured that her ruler would make the most informed decision.

"Agreed. Leave me a copy of the recording. I will need to show it to the hunters when they arrive." The Queen said dismissing her Specter. Her servant had a long journey and a difficult task lay before her. She didn't want to keep her for any longer then necessary.

Quietly, the Specter laid the small converted digital disk onto the table before the Queen. Silently she turned to go knowing that she would return as soon as she had information to pass onto the Queen. But before she could leave, she turned once more to look at the saddened ruler that carried the weight of the entire kingdom on her hobbled shoulders.

"We will find this creature your highness. We will make the kingdom safe." The Specter said trying to reassure them both.

The Queen didn't answer. She really didn't need to. She only gave her servant a pained smile that spoke of the volumes that were left unsaid. There was a dark force moving through the kingdom. And it was up to them to stop it.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 25

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"This is unheard of." Ice commented in a hushed and thoroughly disgusted tone. The kingdom was in crisis and apparently she and Carielle were going to be the ones to resolve it.Both shark and wolf had been surprised to learn that they would not be meeting the Queen in her official and quite visible throne-room. Instead, they were escorted to the privacy of an ice-shrouded room were they were to meet with the Queen in the strictest of confidence.

It was there in the large and spacious white quarters that they learned of the terror moving through the kingdom. It was there that they learned of the rogue changeling."Yes, it is. In all the centuries that our kingdom has stood such a thing has never taken place. I assume that now you both can see why it is that I summoned you?" Queen Welaria asked as she gazed into the eyes of her hunters. Instantly, she knew that her specter had been right about Carielle. The shark was unassuming and cordial. But it didn't fool the Queen for a moment. She knew about the bloodlust that the young shark was hiding. She could see it in her eyes.Yet, she could also tell that Carielle would earnestly perform her duty to the kingdom. The shark had listened with a pronounced intensity to every single word that she had uttered. Most of the time she had sat there with a kind courteousy emanating in her manner. But she had asked questions when appropriate. And from her manner of speech the Queen could tell that Carielle's blood was driven by the hunt. There was this hunger that resided in the young woman's soul. And the Queen knew that it was a thirst for blood.The wolf too seemed just as qualified to perform her duties. She was less formal then the shark. But she seemed to have just as much experience in matters of tracking and hunting.But she would bring something important to the investigation that Carielle didn't have. And that was simply the ability to relate to other tribes. The Midali were horribly secluded from nearly every other tribe on the planet. But Ice, her tribe had contacts everywhere. It would help to grease the wheel when they were searching for their prey."What do we tell our tribes? Surely we cannot tell them the truth?" Carielle asked realizing that tracking down this rogue hybrid could eat up large amounts of her time. Pedryn would have to be told something. But she couldn't imagine that the Queen would want the truth widely known."They will be told that you are performing in a manner for the kingdom itself. I will send word of your covert departure." The Queen answered gently fingering the diamonds that encrusted her scepter."Then we are to leave immediately? For the Outlands?" Ice asked anxious to put distance between herself and the Changing Grounds. Now that she knew that somewhere out there a hideous beast hid, she had every intention of finding it. She hated sitting still when there was work to be done. And right now, she wanted nothing more then to hunt down the vilest of predators.

"Yes, but before you depart there is something that you must see." The Queen said holding up the digital conversion that her Specter had left."The recording.... We are to see it then?" Carielle asked unwilling to believe that she had been chosen to view a human recording of only the utmost secrecy."Yes. I feel that this information is relevant to your hunt. And even though this took place several centuries ago. It is possible that there is a connection between the unknown predator then and what is happening within the kingdom now." The Queen explained spelling out for them what truly they had already guessed."You think that there's some unknown breed that's somehow managed to resurface after more then 500 years?" The wolf asked unwilling to believe that some lone human genetic relic could have survived for so long without notice."I am not saying anything. It is far too early to speculate. That is why you two are here. The kingdom needs answers." The Queen responded hoping that her hunters would keep an open mind. If her instincts were accurate, they would need it."Carielle, if you would please?" The Queen politely asked as she handed the converter to the shark.Slowly, Carielle took the outstretched item and moved towards the video display monitor on the Queen's desk. She noticed the way that the Queen had winced at her touch. Something wasdefinitely wrong. She had never even met Queen Welaria before. But it would seem that her young Queen was almost frightened by her."Play." The Queen said activating the recording through an audio control.Carielle returned to her seat next to the wolf and tried to put her strange thoughts far from mind. It bothered her to know that she would frighten the small benevolent Queen. But now wasn't the time to dwell on such matters. Now was the time to save the kingdom. Slowly, everyone in the room turned their attention to the large flat monitor and watched the events take place. There were four people on camera. One was definitely a changeling, a predator of sorts. Easily, the shark and the wolf could hear the sound of her pounding metabolism. This woman who existed nearly half a millennia ago, was definitely one of them. Of that there was no question. They simply had no idea how it was that she came into existence.She was standing next to a long white table. There was a low lamp hanging over its center. But the lighting in the room was brilliant. To the eyes of the sensitive changelings watching the recording, the light was nothing short of obnoxious.Carielle thought that she remembered at one time reading that humans used a form of lighting called fluorescent. Their eyes just couldn't adjust to the darker shade of night. But the changelings of today's world had no such problems. Their lighting fixtures were always muted and only ever softly glowed.But the changeling from so long ago apparently agreed with them. She was wearing a pair of small circular sunglasses hiding her eyes from their prying vision. The wolf couldn't help but wish she would remove them, if only for a moment. Eye color would go a long way in determining her animal of origin.

Other then that, there was nothing noteworthy or evidentiary about her. She was tall, but not disproportionately so for her time period. Her frame appeared to be quite average and from what they could see of her body she bore no distinguishing characteristics. She was a brunette who wore her hair long and straight. Her jacket seemed to be comprised of leather. And her black pants matched it perfectly. Occasionally, she would move allowing the viewers to catch a quick glance of her bare midriff. Her stomach was flat and covered with the indents and ridges of a hard abdominal muscle. It was quite apparent that she obviously spent much time in training. And Ice couldn't help but wonder if she was some sort of prototype for humanity's super soldiers. Even though most of her body was covered, her clothing was quite tight. It was easy to make out the pronounced musculature of her arms, legs, and back. Next to the changeling sat two men, the likes of which hadn't been seen in centuries. They were an odd site to behold to the women so unused to seeing the visage of a gender not their own. They were both of medium height, medium frame and quite enormous weight. One man had dark hair and muted brown eyes. The other was balding with tired gray eyes. Neither of them were particularly captivating to look at. And if anything, Carielle found herself disturbed by their presence. Yet, there was someone else on camera that did catch the shark's attention. She was young, probably the same age as the changeling standing next to her. Her hair was long, thick, and wavy. But it was a startling shade of black. In fact, at times the shark could swear she had picked up the rich hint of blue highlights. This woman mostly kept her back to the camera but they could still make out the pale ivory of her skin and the litheness of her frame. She was thin and delicate. There wasn't even a hint of animal blood running through her veins. And everyone present found the effect to be quite startling. It was easy to forget the fragility of the human female. But this small creature brought it all back for them. She was an example of their most distant of ancestors. She was an example of their heritage.

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And while they may have kept her two-legged form, all their insides had subsequently changed. They no longer had the softer estrogen form of muscle and frame. They were all strong and powerful, filled with the blood of predators.

There was something unique about her though. There was something strangely intriguing about this human female that made Carielle take notice. At one time during humanity's past, it had been legend that sharks contained a somewhat psychic sense.

But later, their primitive scientists had uncovered that this extra-sensory perception could be traced back to a type of electro-magnetic sensor. Essentially, it made it possible for Carielle's watery ancestors to sense vibrations in the sea. To this day some of her tribe mates retained this ability.

Normally, Carielle envied the other shark hybrids like Pedryn who could perform in this manner. Because usually, she could not. But something within her suddenly took notice. She could sense something from this small human female. She was giving off these vibrations that made her seem both human and not. It was almost like she was in a state of flux.

"Wait! That woman next to the changeling, do we know anything about her?" Carielle asked stopping the play of the recording with her voice.

"No. But I have my Specter working on it as we speak. If she uncovers anything of value I will let you know." The Queen answered already having explained the joint nature of the hunt before them.

"What is it? Are you getting something?" Ice asked. She didn't have the same abilities that the shark did. And she certainly wasn't ashamed about asking for help.

"I'm not sure. But there's something about that woman that's off. She's human. I can hear that in the beat of her heart. But there's something else too. There's something different about her. I'm not really certain of what it is yet. But I can sense something not entirely human about her." Carielle explained quickly realizing that they needed the opinion of another shark on the matter.

"Our scientists have already looked into her with fierce analysis. They've noticed that her breathing is a bit irregular. And her body temperature seems to spike and fall quite rapidly. However, all of that is quite normal considering her emotional state during the making of this recording. But her pupils are another story entirely. The scientists say that they display anomalous behavior." The Queen said easily remembering all the information that her experts had given.

"Her eyes? So we will see them at some point?" The wolf asked noticing that at the moment the female had her back to the camera's eye.

"Only for a moment and at the very end. My experts tell me that it isn't long enough for them to get an accurate reading on what is that causes this irregular eye movement. They say that her pupils contract and dilate in a manner incongruous the lighting of the room. This could be nothing more then her anger playing havoc within the frame of her body. Or this could be something more..." The Queen explained suddenly growing quite weary. Her days were long and challenging. And she would need to rest soon.

"But her eyes, are they like ours?" The wolf asked referring to the animal glow that all hybrid eyes contained.

"No, they are quite human." The Queen answered wishing that she had more information to relay.

But she had no more to give. That's why she had sent for the hunters and the Specter. Information was their game now.

Quickly, everyone in the throne room turned their attention back to the scene playing out before them. The changeling was walking around the table in a fashion that could only be described as predatory. The men were sitting there in a manner that bespoke only of frustration.

Yet the girl seemed to be desperate to bring forth some sort of action. From her overt arm gestures and rigid posture, they could tell that she was quite upset. And just when Carielle was about to begin speculating on the subject of the young human's anger, she realized that she wouldn't have to. Suddenly an audio track could be heard. Unconsciously, the shark leaned forward in her seat not wanting to miss one single exchange of words.

"NO! You're not listening to me. Don't you understand? People are going to start to die." The human female screamed at the men seated across from her.

"Did you hear that Donnie? I think she just threatened us." The one man said turning to face the other.

"You know what, I think you're right? You know what happens to people that make threats around here? We take 'em down to lock-up and let them sit on ice for awhile." The other man responded to the balding one.

And then instantly Carielle recognized the setting before her. These people were in a government building of some kind. It was probably a police station of some sorts. Because these men were certainly with law enforcement.

Even after all these centuries Carielle could pinpoint the reason for their surly manner and blatant machismo. The animal kingdom had studied the rise and fall of humanity's criminal justice system. And law enforcement had been a weakness that eventually, the hybrids had only been too happy to exploit. During the Great War it had been the failure of law enforcement and the subsequent failure of the entire government that had eventually brought humanity to its knees.

"Relax super cop, she's trying to help you not hurt you." The changeling said placing two firm hands on the shoulders of the men before her.
Carielle watched as both men winced at the steely grip of her touch. This changeling was definitely strong. And judging from the length of her teeth, she was fierce as well.

"Lady, what you're saying doesn't make any sense." The man known only as Donnie said. From his manner Ice could tell that he thought this woman was clearly insane.

"If you don't believe me, ask them! Call them on the phone and ask to see the reports on RDI-485. You'll see that what I'm telling you is the truth." The woman cried out a bit desperately. But still, the men seemed to only regard her in contempt and a bit of pity. Obviously, they thought that she was insane.

"I know that what I'm saying sounds crazy. And if I were in your shoes I probably wouldn't believe me either. But this is serious. These people are all in danger and if you don't do something their deaths will be on your head!" The woman screamed. Instantly, the men seemed to take offense to her tone and it appeared that at any moment that were going to lead her away in handcuffs.

"This is happening right now!!! Don't you care???" The woman screamed clearly beside herself with desperation.

"I thought you said we had another ten years before doomsday?" The one man asked all the while sharing a silent smirk with his partner Donnie.

"Before it comes here. Yes, we have another ten years. But right now it's happening in Zimbabwe. If you would just call them you would see that what I'm telling you is the truth." The woman said calming down a bit. It was clear that right now she was changing her tactics. Instead of anger, she was trying to beg them.

"Yeah okay... we'll just call down to Zimbabwe and ask them to give us the 411 on some village out in the middle of godforsaken jungle." Donnie answered laughing hysterically at the very idea.

They looked at the screen as the changeling seemed to exchange a silent look with the woman. Things weren't going well for them. And it was clear that they were ready to give up.

"Never mind..." The human woman said with nothing but sheer resignation in her voice.

"Well, now see we can't do that. Because you and your girlfriend over here were caught trespassing on private property." The other man said clearly enjoying the power that his job afforded him.

"We'll pay the fine and leave. If you have any other questions you can direct them towards my attorney." The changeling said drastically altering the tone and frequency of her voice.

The humans didn't appear to notice but Ice did. The changeling had made herself sound melodic and practically hypnotic. And they all watched on as the human men seemed to instantly rise to do her bidding.

Slowly, the changeling and the human female made their way to the door. The changeling kept a firm arm on the human next to her. But it was clearly a gesture of intimacy.

Yet before they left, the human turned around and looked at the men one last time. It was only briefly but it was long enough for them to see her face. And in all her years, Carielle didn't think that she had ever seen anyone with such sad evergreen eyes. It was like gazing into the very depths of a liquid emerald.

And then in an abrupt manner filled with electronic whirs and snowy edges, the recording ended. They were left with only blank stares and beguiling questions. And the hunters didn't even know where to begin.

"Zimbabwe? What is that place?" Ice asked unfamiliar with the terms of geography the humans had used.

"It's on the Inception. Currently, it's jungle cat territory." The Queen answered far better versed in human history then her companions.

"She hypnotized those men. Very few hybrids have that ability." Carielle mused thinking of the events she had recently witnessed.

"Cobras can do that. Cobras can make you believe anything." Ice volunteered wondering if the predator they had just watched was a prototype version of a snake warrior.

"But snake's use their eyes to hypnotize. She never looked at the men, not into their eyes anyways. She used her voice." Carielle added already having ruled out the snake as this creature's animal of origin.

"Some hyena hybrids can do that, to a certain degree anyway." Ice said knowing for a fact that certain hyena changelings could mimic any known sound.

"My experts have ruled out the hyena. They say her skin pigmentation and stature is all wrong for someone of cat origin." The Queen said trying to drive home the fact that this predator matched no known record. She was truly an enigma to them. And if they planned to rescue the kingdom from this strange and current threat, they must unravel the mystery of this ancient predator from so very long ago.

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"Something bothering you love?" Tezara asked as her wife stalked the room in a wild perimeter of anger.

"I'm not sure." Thash answered keeping her eyes glued solely to the jungle landscape found beyond the pane of her window.

Tezara watched her stoic and calm warrior and felt her heart flutter. Even though they had just spent the better part of the evening making love, she was still far from worn out. Her body still craved the touch of her mate.

But even though Thash had a normally legendary libido, tonight she was distant and distracted. Her wife had tried every single charm in her arsenal to keep the tribal alpha secured in their bed. Yet Thash would have none of it. Despite Tezara's obvious attempts to please and pleasure the jungle cat's mind was clearly focused elsewhere.

"You've been distracted all night." Tezara mused as she left their bed, completely naked and wholly uncaring. Her wife normally liked to eye the flesh of her nude form. And Tezara wasn't one to disappoint.

But tonight, Thash ignored her wife's touch as she continued to scan the landscape with her eyes. She could feel Tezara trying to mold her nude form to her wider and stronger back. Usually, this type of blatant display of need and sexuality would arouse her.

Instead, her thoughts were in the Gallion Village and why her tribe seemed to be stoutly avoiding her. Shaenebel had given just about every excuse in the book. But Thash didn't believe a word of it. Kellis was clearly indisposed of. And no one appeared to know how or where to find her daughter.

"Did I tell you I went shopping today? I bought the most delicious little ruby red beaded..." Tezara began trying to tantalize her mate with the newest piece of unorthodox jewelry that she had added to her scintillating collection.

"Not now!" Thash snapped moving just enough to let her wife know that she was tired of being clung to.

Even though she didn't turn, Thash could hear the sounds of Tezara stepping away. She could easily imagine the way that her wife would bring one long delicate hand up to the side of her face. She would breathe deeply trying to refocus her efforts. She would toss her long sandy brown hair over the small delicate curves of her shoulders. Wildly, she would flash her green eyes before taking that one final step towards her wife.

"I'm sorry. What is it? What's upsetting you?" Tezara asked daring to place only one gentle hand on the side of her mate's arm.

"Elila. I've been trying all night to get a hold of her. The tribe keeps giving me the run around. But something is going on. I can feel it." Thash seethed pulling her long white robe even tighter around the frame of her body.

"Well, what does Kellis have to stay?" Tezara asked wondering why it was that her wife seemed to be so concerned about Elila. Thash rarely gave the girl a moment's notice let alone a second thought.

"Nothing. I can't seem to get a hold of her either." Thash answered unable to keep the anger from invading her tone.

But Tezara didn't notice her wife's bitterness. Instead, at the words spoken Tezara felt her heart soar. Both Kellis and Elila were apparently missing. To the heron's mother that could mean only one thing, they were together. And the very idea filled her mind with infinite possibilities.

"Don't get all excited. They're not together. I asked." Thash answered neatly pulling her long platinum locks onto the top of her head.

She hated having her hair lay across her face. It was unbecoming and a complete hindrance when in battle. But she was the tribal alpha. And all alphas were expected to portray a certain image of serenity and beauty. And unfortunately, every single one of her image consultants had told her time and time again that to accomplish that, she needed to keep her locks long.

Thash didn't understand why her hair was so terribly important. Her wife and many others of her lovers had all commented on other more appealing features that she possessed. She had been told that her yellow eyes sparkled like the rising sun. And that her skin was a soft as freshly spun silk. Of course, her breasts were always large and fully ideal in their proportions. She had even been told that her body was so perfectly exceptional that there had never been an alpha before with such innate grace and confounding beauty.

"If they're not together then where is Elila? Has she run off again?" Tezara asked thoroughly worried that her daughter had tried once more to return to the familiar stomping grounds of her boggy home.

"I'm not certain but somehow I doubt it. I contacted my usual people down in the swamp. No one has seen or heard from her. If she is there she's keeping an awfully low profile." Thash mused unable to determine exactly what was bothering her.

"Well, I'm certain that Elila will turn up. Kellis wouldn't let anything happen to her. And besides, I never get to spend time with you anymore. I don't want to waste this one evening that we've been given." Tezara added allowing one of her long delicate hands to find her way beneath the robe of her wife.

"I guess you're right." Thash answered pulling her wife even closer instead of pushing her away.

This time the mighty tribal alpha ran her flat palms up and down Tezara's body. She cupped her shoulders, her breasts, but stopped at the tightened swell of her wife's stomach. Her fingertips traced the long scar that cut across the abdomen of her mate.

"She did this to you." Thash seethed referring to the emergency procedure that had to be used to remove Elila from the womb.

"Well, she hardly did it on purpose." Tezara countered scoffing at the suggestion.

The animosity between her wife and her daughter was gigantic in proportion. And it was a tired old tune that she was sick to death of listening to. Besides she had no intention of bemoaning a prehistorically old situation when she could be taking her wife to bed. After all, now was a time for love not the bitterness of familial discord.

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She awoke to find herself in a small dirty room that she couldn't seem to recognize. The air in the room was stale and humid. Her body was naked and tired. And instantly, Kellis could tell that something horrible had happened.

Neisha was precariously perched on the side of her bed. Her eyes were tired, red, and swollen. And her body was rigid and trembling. The woman had been crying. But Kellis truly had no idea why.

She rolled her eyes back and forth trying to clear the focus of her vision. She couldn't imagine that she was even still in the Lodge. But as she looked at her surroundings the young warrior found that she couldn't seem to recall much of anything.

"Oh god...you're awake. I'll get some water. Hold still." Neisha rambled immediately slipping into the comfortable role of the constant healer.

Immediately the woman returned to the warrior holding a large glass of ice-cold water. Kellis was far too weak to hold the liquid up to her mouth. But Neisha didn't mind nursing the warrior a bit. She was good at this. Neisha had always been told that she was a natural born nurturer. And after Kellis learned of Elila, the woman suspected that the golden warrior would require quite a bit of coddling and care.

"Where are we?" Kellis asked finally managing to use her voice after the fluid cooled her throat.

"The Lodge. This is an abandoned area. I hear it's being torn down after the Gallion. They're putting up another spa or something like that..." Neisha muttered looking at the warrior with abject pity and a breaking heart. Kellis would not take this news well. In fact, Neisha was beginning to wonder how the warrior would survive this at all.

"What is it Neisha? What's going on? Why are we here?" Kellis asked struggling to prop herself up on the bed. She didn't care that her breasts were bouncing about or that her legs had been splayed in a somewhat undignified manner. She had no time or care for things like modesty.

"Oh...it's...Kellis something awful has happened." Neisha managed to get out.

But she couldn't stop her tears. She had mourned for Elila ever since Lineva had told them of her fate. But truthfully, it wasn't only the heron that she wept for. It was Kellis as well. This would destroy the warrior in ways that she doubted Kellis was even aware of.

"What is it?" Kellis asked feeling this looming sort of dread enter her heart.

Neisha was a formidable woman. And from the looks of things she was practically undone. Whatever had happened clearly was just as dreadful as Neisha proclaimed it to be.

Unconsciously, Kellis found herself fisting the sweaty sheet beneath her body. She glanced around the room looking for some sign of Melaryn but found none. It wasn't like her friend to her leave her in an obvious state of distress. And she suddenly seized with fear at the thought that something horrid had befallen her friend.

"What's the last thing that you remember?" Neisha asked knowing that she needed to stall a bit.

It would be inappropriate for her to Kellis of the heron. That was news better left for Melaryn to deal with. It was information that needed to be passed warrior to warrior.

Besides, Neisha had no idea how to even broach the subject. Elila's death would come as a complete and total shock to the golden warrior. And Neisha suspected that Kellis' grief might literally consume her.

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It was always so majestic and magical to behold. It quickened her pulse and set her body afire with the prospect of possibility and excitement. It contained the pure nexus of sin. And it carried the hope of the masses. It hid the dark and dangerous. And it screamed of wet and wild. It was a place to get a lost. And it was a place to be found. It had adventure, romance, and the shameful realism of a people scorned. With all its waters, bogs, marshes, and sandy inlays it proudly stood displaying its technicolor name to all those that would pass it by. It was the swamp and it welcomed all that would dare to brave its criminal currents.

But to Elila, it would only ever be home. And she nearly wept at the mere site of it. She couldn't count the number of times that she had docked at Jupiter Bay.

Yet it never ceased to amaze her. This land stretched out before her had such a deceptive serenity. From all outward appearances it was calm, humid and lush.

But Elila knew the truth. There were many dangers awaiting her just beyond the wooden dock. And she would be an absolute fool if she didn't recognize that her personal aggressor would come in the form of a jungle cat employee.

Oh, Elila knew of her alpha's secrets. Thash thought she was so smart finding cast-out jungle cats to do her dirty work. She would pay them for their dutiful service. Or worse still, she would promise then readmission to the tribe.

Tonight the flashing bold lights of Black Moon looked like a personal beacon welcoming her back. And despite her best effort to the contrary, she found her eyes welling up at the site. It was so wonderful to be home. Her heart hadn't felt this peaceful since the very day she had been forced to leave.

"There you are. Could you not leave me alone with these people? You know two separate people tried to sell me jolari root. Another person asked if I wanted to sample some crystallized cobra venom. These people are not right. My god... I thought the Gallion Village was filled with lowlives but this is ridiculous. And we aren't even on land yet! I can't wait to see that population..." Zeranna complained coming up to stand next to the heron.

Elila only smiled as she listened to the beleaguered chatter of her newest friend. She didn't take offense to the shark's comments. She knew that this would be an experience for the somewhat prim and altogether proper warrior.

"What are you doing up here? You know, I always thought that Fasara Territory was undoubtedly the hottest territory in all the world. But my god Elila, this place is making my blood simmer." Zeranna added pulling at the sweat-saturated fabric of her silk tank top. All she wanted to do was rip away the confines of her tight black pants and leave the bottom portion of her body delightfully nude. But even though this was the swamp, she doubted that event those criminally native folk would approve of her dire lack of propriety.

"At least down below the air is climate controlled. Although it is only slightly cooler then up here. What's the deal with that? Maybe I should talk to someone in maintenance?" Zeranna rambled as she gazed at the distant shoreline.

Black Moon Swamp was still several miles in the distance. She would be stuck on this transport for at least another hour or so. And the shark just didn't know how she was going to tolerate it.

"I'm up here because I'm enjoying the view." Elila said never once taking her eyes from the flashing neon lights in the distance.

Zeranna only scowled at the idea. The swamp was filled with garish displays of pink and lime green neon. And if that wasn't bad enough, they adorned every single building, bridge, and sandy road with the large flickering yellow bulbs of stale brightness.

Half of the swamp looked like it hadn't been updated since the humans died. And the other half surely didn't warrant a visit. The shark looked over at the heron as if to silently ask for clarification. Because to her native Midali eyes, this murky place looked thoroughly dirty and disgustingly cheap.

But Elila apparently saw so much more to its absurdly bright lights and run-down buildings. To her, it was home. And when Zeranna saw the tears of utter relief and complete happiness filling her eyes she could identify. She felt the exact same way about the Wetlands. And as a warrior who had fought fiercely for her land, she truly understood the value of having a place to call home.

"I'm sorry... you know I'm sure that from this distance I'm just missing its charm." Zeranna quickly said realizing that she had just insulted the girl's home.

"It's okay. I know that people like you don't fully appreciate the swamp. But it's okay, you're not meant to." Elila said as she felt her soul literally rejoice at the site of the twinkling lights on the distant waterline.

"People like me? What's that supposed to mean?" Zeranna asked a bit harshly.

Normally, she would never have taken such a tone with the small girl. But she was tired, hot, and cranky. And besides, she wrongly assumed that Elila had been referring to sharks in a derogatory manner.

"Oh stop... I didn't mean it in that way. When I said people like you, I meant people that are purebred and happy within the confines of their very own tribe. I don't have that, not with the Fasara anyway.

I don't look like them and I never will. These are my people. And this is my home. And to everybody else I know that Black Moon looks like this poor little shantytown with nothing to offer but some illegal jolari and a quick ride on a cheap whore.

But I know your territory. I've been to the Wetlands. And I've met your tribe. You don't understand people like me.

But there are more of us out there then you might think...half-breeds that is. In fact, that are some full on mutts. I've met people that can't even begin to guess at their original animal ancestry. Can you imagine not knowing if you come from the land, the air or sea? You can't, can you?

Well, I can. Because they come here. The swamp is filled with hybrids and changelings of every single conceivable type of life. And we all have one thing in common.

And let me tell you, it's a powerful thread that binds us all. None of us have any place else to go. We're the criminals, the half-breeds, the cast-offs, the dishonored, and the all out scorned.
But we can go to the swamp. No matter who you are or what you've done you can always go to Black Moon. You're life won't be easy or filled with fun and games. But if you really try you can see the beauty all around you. If you truly open yourself can find other people that you can call friend. And if you work really hard and never give up on hope you can make a life for yourself.

And it won't be just some normal run of the mill predictable life. It will be exceptional. Because simply surviving within the boundaries of Black Moon Swamp is a feat to celebrate year after year. There are two types of people that live at the swamp; those that have given up and those that are ready to fight..." Elila finally finished. She looked up at Zeranna's startled expression and felt her cheeks flush with shame.

She hadn't meant to prattle on like that. She was simply overcome with vivid memories of a life she had greatly missed. And in her rush to feel her past it would appear that Elila gave Zeranna quite an earful.

"So, which are you?" The shark asked amazed with the information that Elila had so willingly imparted. Elila was a woman of many colors. And Zeranna was just now beginning to witness their vibrancy and hue.

"Well, surprising even myself I would have to say that I'm a fighter." Elila answered mouthing the words as if they were nothing short of foreign to her.

"Now I don't know why that would surprise you. I believe a devious cobra named Licara most recently helped you prove that point not only to yourself but to every shark at the Gallion Village." Zeranna answered a bit shocked to find that the heron didn't really see herself as strong or resilient.

Because resourceful, strong, and fortuitous were all words that she would use to describe the small heron. Elila very clearly had a steely mettle that surrounded her heart and soul. And Zeranna was certain that it was that determination that had saved the heron from the literal fangs of death not once but twice.

Originally, she had figured that any offspring of Thash would have certainly inherited a bit of bravery and courage from the proud tribal alpha. But now she could see just how wrong that assumption was. Elila's courage wasn't inherited. And the young heron certainly didn't bear that pompous streak that inflicted her alpha.

Her strength was honest, pure, and whole-heartedly earned. Nothing about her emotional make-up bespoke of jungle cat heritage. On the contrary, Zeranna could now see what clearly made Elila the tough little heron that dared to actually bite a murderous cobra.

It was this place with its drug dealers, cheap whores, desperate poverty, and criminal vein that taught Elila how to fight for life. And it was this sinful pit of debauchery that had turned her into a kind, charming and compassionate young woman. The more she thought of it, the more Zeranna boiled with excitement to dock at the swamp. She was anxious to fully partake in the place that Elila proudly called home.

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"Here we are, home sweet home..." Elila muttered as the transport prepared its finally docking procedure. Their approach included one last trip down the magnetic bar that served as a bridge between the mainland and its surrounding swamp marshes. This was the part that the heron liked best. This was when the beauty of the swamp could truly be seen.

Even Zeranna seemed a bit taken with the site. The mainland was a glittering display of rich texture and bold personality. While the surrounding marshes were softer in their illumination. From the distance, they almost looked romantic as they demurely glowed under the light of the blood red moon.

"My god, I had heard of the effect but to actually see it..." Zeranna whispered as she gazed up at the red moon and twinkling ruby red stars.

"It's the swamp gas? It makes everything in the sky look red?" Zeranna asked unable to tear her eyes away from a sky that suddenly seemed foreign and altogether creepy. The whole skyline looked like some sort of horrific creation.

"Yes, it's the swamp gas. It's lays like a thin cloud over the entire area. And no, it doesn't make everything red. If a transport flies above the gas line it will still appear to be a normal shade of silver. The gas only affects the coloring of the celestial bodies. You know, to this day I'm not really sure why. I think it has something to do with distance and the water reflection." Elila explained as she ushered Zeranna off the still docking transport.

"Elila, what are we doing? The transport hasn't even docked yet." Zeranna commented as she allowed the heron to pull her at a steady pace.

"We have to hurry. We only have a few minutes left." Elila added in a rush of hurried excitement.

"What?" Zeranna asked finally pulling her attention away from the sky above.

They walked at a steady pace around the observation deck to the exit of the transport. Zeranna was surprised to find that the bottom cabin area had already been mostly cleared of passengers. There was a steady stream of people running towards the waiting exit. There was such a feeling of panic in the air it was almost like they were running for their very lives.

"Elila, what's going on?" Zeranna asked as she clutched the nearby wall and firmly dug in her heels.

"Come on... It's all right. We have to jump." Elila answered laughing a bit at the shark's blanched expression.

"JUMP??? Why? We must still be at least 30 ft. off the ground." Zeranna answered as she looked down over the side of the nearby railing.

"Transports to the swamp never dock. If they did, local gangs or mercenary groups would board them. I can think of twenty different local militia factions that would love to get their hands on a transport.

Now come on... We don't have much time left. They only allow five minutes for disembarking. Any longer then that and some gang would have time to try an aerial assault.

You have two options. Since you're a shark you can jump the railing. We're over deep waters here.

Other wise, you have to jump the exit. That's what I'm about to do. There's a safety net waiting below. Just let yourself fall. You don't need to add any momentum to your drop. Once you hit the netting, you need to flip over the side as quickly as possible." Elila explained as she watched the few remaining passengers exit the hovering transport.

"Elila, I don't understand. Flip? I don't..." Zeranna rambled on as her feelings mounted into a steady stream of panic.

"There's no time. The netting or the water, the choice is yours!" Elila snapped as she felt the transport reverse its throttle. It would only be a matter of seconds now before it left orbit.

"The water..." Zeranna gasped out as she heard the transport reverse its power flow. She walked over to the side of the railing and glanced at Elila as the heron ran to the now vacant exit.

"GO! I'll meet you on the beach." Elila screamed as she allowed her body to fall nearly thirty feet to the waiting dock below.

Zeranna watched the heron fall before she too jumped the transport. Her body had no sooner emerged in the air than the transport reversed its position at top speed. Elila had been right. They had clearly been running out of time.

Her landing in the water was graceful and streamline. And she had been lucky. These were deep waters although, a bit too polluted for her liking. She opened her mouth to inhale a few deep lung-fulls of water. It had been hours since she had last wet her lungs. And they were beginning to dry and crack.

Some sharks didn't mind inhaling dry air for days on end. She knew that Pedryn was never bothered in the least by such an action. But she was a traditionalist at heart. And when at all possible, Zeranna preferred to sustain her life from the sea.

But as soon as she swallowed her first gulp of water, Zeranna suddenly realized that this water was certainly not what she was accustomed to. Aside from the crippling pollutants, its salt content was surprisingly low. Instead of easing the dry ache of her lungs she found that it only made her gasp and wheeze on the water in her throat.

She struggled to get to the beach where she knew the heron would be waiting. Zeranna didn't get far though. She stopped right where the water met the sand and collapsed right onto the ground. She coughed and gasped until she was certain that she finally cleared all the water from her system.

"You all right?" Elila asked easily finding the waiting shark.

Zeranna couldn't even answer. She only nodded her head as she waited for her gasping lungs to take nourishment from the humid salty air. She noticed the lights of the docking bay off in the distance. There were a few other transports circling in the air above. But other then that, she didn't see any signs of the brightly colored debauchery that she had noticed from the transport.

"Where are we?" Zeranna asked as she finally reclaimed the ability to speak.

"This is Jupiter Bay. The actual village of Black Moon is over there. See. It's on the other side of the swamp land." Elila explained as she pointed across the dark murky waters to a space of land that even Zeranna couldn't see. But the shark resolutely decided to believe the heron. She certainly had no idea what was going on.

"I thought we were going to Black Moon. Isn't that where you're from?" Zeranna asked as she suddenly began to feel like they had been dropped off in some sort of deserted ghost town.

This place seemed nearly devoid of life signs. And the shark didn't trust their surroundings for a moment. She could sense life somewhere off in the distance. She could hear the rush of blood and the beat of a heart.

But she couldn't see anything. In fact, she could only clearly see a few feet in front of her in any given direction. Elila had told her that the swamp gas would impede her vision. But she hadn't expected anything like this. The effect was startling and all together frightening.

"Yes, that is where I'm from. But nobody that is actually from the swamp docks in Black Moon. It's more of a tourist trapping. It's also the quickest way to get mugged, raped, or beaten by the local populace. We natives dock out in her Jupiter Bay where you can actually walk away from the transport with your belongings and dignity in tact." Elila explained as she watched the shark finally find the energy to stand.

"Well, I don't know about dignity. We did just have to jump right out of the very sky." Zeranna answered still reeling from the effects of her first contact with true swamp water.

"That we did... Now come on. Let's get out of here before we attract the local danger." Elila said as she began a steady walk down the rather soggy marsh.

"Great. Where are we going?" Zeranna asked as she realized that they were walking in the opposite direction of where Elila had indicated Black Moon resided.

"Gator country." Elila answered as they continued at a steady pace.

"What? Elila, that sounds like a terrible idea." Zeranna explained suddenly feeling a bit insecure. She had never before encountered a gator hybrid. But she had heard the stories. And she was suddenly beginning to wonder about her own abilities.

"Don't worry... In a one on one situation you'd come out on top." Elila added in a solid attempt to ease the worry of Zeranna's mind.

The shark hadn't openly voiced her concern. But Elila didn't need her to. She had grown up around predators and she always knew of their innermost worry. No self-respecting warrior liked to be in a situation where they could be easily trounced.

Yet, Elila was a bit startled that Zeranna even questioned her own abilities and physiology. As far as Elila knew there wasn't a predator in the entire kingdom stronger or more deadly then a shark.

Even though Elila truly liked Zeranna and was beginning to trust her more and more with each passing moment. The heron found it difficult to forget that her newest friend possessed the pure blood of nature's most perfect killing machine.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 26

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"Is this ride always so bumpy?" Zeranna asked as Elila introduced the shark to yet another one of the swamp's many transport systems.

There weren't a lot of aerial transports found in the swamp. Most establishments of any patronage or worthiness were found neatly tucked beneath the sea. There was no reason to fly about halfway to the heavens when it was much more convenient to skim across the water's surface.

After a quick walk down the swamp's one and only official beach, Elila had efficiently booked them on the next departing skipper for gator country. Skippers were large inflatable rafts constructed of a material only slightly stronger then latex. A large lumbering fan that whisked the humid air in and out of its metal arms with an alarming speed propelled the raft. And at the very front of the raft sat the captain who was weaving their tiny craft in and out of the ever present human ruins that occasionally jutted up out of the water's surface.

Even though this was a method of travel Elila had used for most of her life it never ceased to unnerve her. Once she had seen a raft skip across the water only to land on some old human structure still proudly bearing its steel edges beneath the murky swamp. The craft instantly deflated and all its passengers went swimming for safety.

Swamp water was dangerous, even for those that called it home. Elila couldn't swim. And as she looked around at the miles and miles of pure water that made up her preferred place of residence, the young heron was beginning to see the cruel irony of it all.

She had tried to learn, time and time again. But she couldn't stand that moment when her head would sink beneath the water's surface and everything would fade to black. That's when she would panic. And her limbs would dance in a wholly choppy and uncoordinated method known only to those that sink rather then swim.

"You all right?" Zeranna asked as she noticed that the young heron seemed to be gripping the sides of the raft for dear life.

"Yeah... It's just that whole swimming thing." Elila answered feeling a surge of gratitude as she saw the looming lights of gator country riding just off in the distance.

At her words, Zeranna seemed to take a careful step closer to the heron. Swimming was something that she had been born to do. But the shark was no stranger to those that didn't possess the rhythm of the sea. To them, it's waters were nothing but a deadly wet grave. And she wouldn't let that happen to Elila. She had promised Pedryn as much.

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"What is it?" Pedryn asked as she attempted to appear busy behind her towering stone desk.

Trying to keep up with the day to day running of the tribe was proving to be a futile task. Carielle was still missing. And her worry for her cousin was only growing with the passing of each and every moment.

"I am sorry to disturb you Alpha but it is the Fasara. They have sent a representative to speak with you. I am afraid she won't take no for an answer." The soft and demure voice of her assistant called out to her.

Pedryn pushed herself away from the desk feeling a rush of excitement course through her body. She had been expecting this. As soon as they realized that Elila was gone she knew they would come to her to find their missing heiress.

It had been far too long since she had had a bit of rough play and blood sport. And the Fasara were always perfect opponents for both activities. Besides this would give her an opportunity to finally meet Kellis, the guardian that had recently proven so terribly in effective.

Though she tried to tell herself that her interest in the golden warrior was one of an official nature only, deep down Pedryn openly admitted the truth. Kellis was the competition, at least as far as Elila's parents were concerned. And she was looking forward to finally meeting her rival for Elila's affections.

"Send her in." Pedryn answered quickly dismissing the assistant who had suddenly become so inconsequential.

Instantly, she stood away from her desk allowing her body to ascend to its full towering height. She didn't move as a method of intimidation. She moved in preparation. With the jungle cats anything was possible, including a full-frontal attack.

But when her assistant reappeared to usher in the Fasara representative, Pedryn was terribly disappointed to find out that it wasn't the infamous Kellis that she would be meeting with. The warrior standing before her was Melaryn, that much Pedryn was certain of. And though they hadn't been officially introduced she knew of this jungle cat warrior by reputation alone. Apparently if Kellis hadn't come along with all her youthful talents and intuition, this warrior would have eventually led the tribe.

Quickly, Pedryn gestured to her assistance that she required privacy and peace. And dutifully she turned to go leaving the two warriors all alone in the shark's lofty office. But Melaryn hadn't come to gaze out at the most breath-taking view of the Gallion Ocean.

She hadn't even come to spar a bit and prove once and for all which tribe was truly the superior. She had come with a far greater purpose in mind. And as her mouth twisted to say the words she had come to utter, Melaryn found her body going numb with grief.

"I've come for her body. If there's anything left of it..." Melaryn managed to gasp out all the while willing herself not to cry.

She didn't know why this was upsetting her so. She had already lost countless sisters to the slaughter of war. Elila should be no different.

But for whatever reason, she was. She was an innocent in all this. She had been caught up in a war that her alpha had started. But it was the young heron that had ended up paying the consequence.

On some level, Melaryn knew that her pronounced grief was because she shared in the burden of the young girl's death. She had been seated next to her at the banquet. And not once did she ever detect the presence of the cobra.

What's worse is that she saw the state that Kellis was in. She watched her drink glass after glass of rollen juice. But despite that and the very real danger of the Gallion Village she left Elila there to fend for herself and now, she was dead.

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Pedryn answered as she crossed her strong arms over her chest.

She knew that her physique must seem particularly intimidating at this moment. She was dressed in her normal gray form-fitting attire ready and able to fight. While Melaryn, looked like she had gone a near century without sleep. If they were to battle now it would surely be an unfair fight.

"Elila...her body. If there's anything left of it I...we would like it back. Surely you can grant us the opportunity to give her a proper burial." Melaryn responded knowing that if the shark were to come at her now she would be practically defenseless.

Neisha had urged her to take other warriors along as well. There was safety in numbers. But Melaryn wouldn't hear of it. Thash still had not been told of her daughter's fate.

And Melaryn refused to tell one more member of the tribe until the Alpha had properly been informed. But to tell Thash, they needed to at least have her body. It was their custom. Grieving could not begin until the remains had been buried.

"Of course...but I'm afraid that in this instance I cannot accommodate you." Pedryn answered as she suddenly realized how terribly misinformed the entire Fasara tribe seemed to be.

"Please, Alpha I beg of you to grant this one request. It is our fault that her body has been torn asunder. Don't punish her soul by denying it entrance back to the earth. She must be buried. She deserves that much." Melaryn pleaded all the while knowing that she sounded terribly un-warrior like.

But right now, she couldn't care. At heart, Melaryn was deeply spiritual. And she firmly believed in accordance with their faith that in the end, all souls must be allowed to return to the earth mother. She wanted that for Elila. It seemed like the very least that she could do.

"I'm afraid that I don't agree with you. Because you see at the moment, Elila is still very much using her body. I don't think that she would enjoy being lodged beneath the earth's surface." Pedryn answered as she watched the shocked expression play across the jungle cat's features.

"What? What are you saying?" Melaryn asked as her yellow eyes opened into wide ovals of confusion and hope.

"Elila is very much alive. She's perfectly fine." Pedryn explained as she wondered what the heron would think to know that her own tribe had thought she had passed away.

"Where is she?" Melaryn asked still unable to believe the wonderful news that the shark was giving her.

"I don't know. I'm not her keeper. She left the Fluid nearly two days ago. I haven't seen her since then." Pedryn explained as she began to wonder how well hidden the heron currently was.

"How can I believe you? Maybe this is all some sort of trick???" Melaryn asked knowing that her exhaustion was triggering her inner doubts.

"Fine. Come with me. I'll prove it." Pedryn answered as she rounded her desk to escort the jungle cat from her office.

Melaryn had no idea where she was being taken. But she suspected that this particular shark knew far more then she was willing to say. Even though she had no idea what it was that Pedryn was hiding she inherently knew that her silence bespoke of danger.

Instantly, Melaryn wished that it were Kellis here in her place. Her friend possessed an innate gift to read the body language of the shark. Kellis would instantly know if Pedryn was lying.

But for some reason, Melaryn immediately knew that a meeting between those two particular warriors would result in tragedy. Melaryn couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was something intrinsically deceptive about Pedryn. She might not know exactly what that was but Melaryn was certain that this shark carried a streak of pure violent death.

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"This is all so unbelievable. Are you sure of what you saw?" Kellis asked as she paced the room in long angry strides.

Melaryn was thrilled with her recovery. Since regaining consciousness Kellis' seemed to be returning to health with full strength and vigor. Of course it was far too early to tell but she was beginning to think that her friend might just have escaped the effects of the jolari root relatively unharmed.

There was potential for more severe problems to occur later on, but for now, Melaryn didn't want to think of it. Kellis seemed to be doing just fine, better actually then expected. And she was willing to enjoy her friend's returned health for as long as possible.

"I am positive. The recording was time stamped by the Gallion census. According to the local authorities the figure boarding the transport was Elila." Melaryn answered as she felt her fear wash away in a giant pool of relief. From all outward appearances it would seem that Pedryn had in fact been telling the truth. And because of it, she had been spared the awful task of having to tell her best friend that Elila had died.

"And this shark? Pedryn? She just had this recording lying around?" Kellis stammered as she moved around in clothing that was far too big for her frame.

But right now, she couldn't be concerned with things like white linens that just didn't quite fit. Elila was missing. And her heart had literally wrenched itself into a huge fist of fear.

"Pedryn said that she anticipated our visit. She suspected that Elila had no intention of returning to the Lodge. So, she contacted the Gallion authorities to make sure she bought herself a bit of insurance. Elila was very much alive when she left the Fluid. Where or how she is now is another matter entirely." Melaryn answered as she reclined back onto the dirty mattress that had served as Kellis' makeshift living quarters for the last few days. The room was grungy and dirty. And the aroma of stale illness was almost too much to bear.

"But Lineva and Halauris, they saw her die?" Kellis asked as she once again tried to clarify the exact situations that had occurred since the onset of her unfortunate condition.

"No, they didn't. They saw her begin to suffocate on the venom filling her body. They felt her heart palpitate and nearly stop. When the shark arrived, they left. They were not there to see her take a final breath." Melaryn answered as she began to feel reasonably certain that in this one small area they might actually be able to trust the word of a Midali.

"This is all so unbelievable. Why wouldn't the sharks kill her? Or just let her die? Why would they assist her?" Kellis stammered as she continued to pace the room. She was beginning to think that now might be a good time to have a few careful words with this alpha shark.

"I know, it doesn't make a lot of sense. But Pedryn said they were trying to abide by the guidelines of the peace treaty. I honestly believe that they have no desire to wage war. Rescuing Elila was their way of making sure that such an action didn't have to occur." Melaryn added as she once again felt a wellspring of gratitude that an armed conflict seemed to have been neatly avoided.

"No, that's not true. Thash herself told me that the Midali were planning a full frontal assault. She said that it was only a matter of time before we were at war once more. She said that they would look for any opportunity to violate the treaty.

Having Elila in their midst was practically handing them revenge on a silver platter. Why didn't they take advantage of it? Why didn't they take advantage of her?" Kellis asked truly stupefied by the actions of the sharks.

"I don't know. Pedryn was hiding something that much I'm sure of. What though I really have no idea.

And it is possible that Thash has been misinformed. She relies on a spy network to uncover information about the Wetlands. It is possible that their intentions are honest. Perhaps they have no real desire to go back to our mutual states of violence.

But Kellis, you're also forgetting one other strange detail. Remember the awards ceremony? Elila should up with a shark. And that was the morning after she went missing the first time." Melaryn answered trying to remind her friend of the exact sequence of events.

"This is all so terribly absurd." Kellis muttered as she finally gave into her physical exhaustion and sat down on the bed next to her closest friend.

The young golden warrior leaned back onto the bed covering her bloodshot yellow eyes with the palms of her hand. Her vision was still blurry. And the soft dim light in the room was nothing short of a blinding pain to her still tender eyes.

Ever since she had awakened she had done nothing but worry for Elila. Of course, Neisha hadn't said anything. She had only sat there with those red-rimmed eyes that let her know something truly wicked had transpired.

It was when Melaryn had returned that she truly felt her body wrench in fear. She thought that her friend was going to lean down and whisper to her only the most dreadful of news. But instead, the story that Melaryn told was one filled with holes, deception and distrust. Elila was missing. And Kellis knew that it was all her fault.

She was so preoccupied with thoughts of the heron that she hadn't even focused on her own rather precarious state. Melaryn and Neisha were relatively positive that her symptoms were due to a jolari overdose. But to Kellis, none of it made any sense.

The last thing she remembered was sitting at the award's banquet with Narlene at her side. She had been drinking a lot. But she could handle rollen juice. It had never caused her to black out before.

She didn't even remember leaving with Narlene. But several different sources confirmed that that is in fact, just what she did. And because of the huge gaping holes in her memory she had no idea how it was that she came to be lying on the floor of Narlene's private room, naked and in seizure.

Although Kellis was certain that although this was not her proudest moment, a reasonable explanation would eventually come forth. All she had to do was find Narlene. Surely the young kitten could explain everything.

In fact at this very moment Neisha was out contacting the Gallion authorities. Narlene had been gone long enough to officially report her missing. They would find her. And then, this entire unfortunate episode could finally be put to rest.

"I'll contact Thash. I'll tell her what's happened. And then, I'm off to the swamp to find a wayward heron." Kellis muttered as she inwardly reflected on whether she was going to be insanely relieved or violently angry when she finally found Elila.

The heron had certainly caused a fair share of problems during this trip. So much in fact that Kellis desperately wished that she had never agreed to be her temporary guardian. But Kellis knew that Elila certainly wasn't solely to blame. A cobra had attacked Elila because she had failed at her duty. And that was a grueling kind of guilt that Kellis was quickly making a sister to her soul.

"It might not be that simple. I contacted Thash's people in Black Moon. No one has seen a single trace of her. If she is in the swamp that means that she's hiding somewhere out in the bogs or surrounding marshland. That's not an easy land to navigate, especially for a non-native." Melaryn explained as she realized that it was a possibility that in this one case, the heron would have the tactical advantage.

Elila had run away before. But she had run to family and friends. She had never tried to hide. She had only really ever wanted a break from Thash and the rest of the jungle.

But this time, it was different. Elila was making herself scarce. And Melaryn really had no idea how to even go about locating her. The swamp authorities would never cooperate with them. And the marshland was an unforgiving territory to those strangers that dared to enter its domain.

"Don't worry. I'm sure I can find her. It's not like Elila is from there. She has family there. She lived with them for a while. I'm sure that they guided her through most of the territory and kept her out of harm's way. As far as I know she's never before been all on her own in the swamp. Who knows? She might even come home on her own. I think she's in way over her head and hopefully I'll find her before she has to learn that lesson on her own." Kellis responded as she tried rather unsuccesfully to roll over.

She was going to need more rest before she could go anywhere. The swamp was a criminal battleground. And unless she wanted to get both herself and Elila killed, she was going to need to be functioning at her absolute best.

"Besides...a trip to the swamp might be the perfect vacation right about now." Kellis added as she inflected a definite note of sarcasm into her tone.

"Oh?" Melaryn asked truly not getting what her friend was trying to convey.

"Yeah...after I tell Thash what's happened to her daughter I have a strong feeling that the Fasara Village isn't exactly going to be a safe place for me." Kellis answered as she realized that letting Elila get attacked by a cobra could have lasting and long-reaching consequences for her position within the tribe.

The Alpha's only daughter had almost died while in her custody. That wasn't a crime easily overlooked. And Kellis knew that there would be definite consequences for her failure.

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"This is gator country? What a lovely place..." Zeranna murmured unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

Their small skipper had docked a few minutes ago and the unlikely duo were currently making their way down the slick gray marshland. There was little in the way of immediate foliage. Only the occasional willow and a few scattered handful of crab grass surrounded the entire marsh. Other then that, the entire area was devoid of trees, bushes, or thickened greenery.

Normally, the lack of plants wouldn't have bothered Zeranna. She was from the sea. She wholly preferred an aquatic environment.

But this place had a strange aura to it. Even the life that preferred to dwell on or beneath the swamp seemed foreign and strange to her. As a shark, her tribe was always on the move. Even when inhabiting their native wetlands she found that they constantly strained for perfect productivity and action.

Yet the swamp seemed to be moving to a rhythm all its own. The dank, dirty and wet marsh that lined the muddy swamp water was bustling with native inhabitants. Most Zeranna assumed were gators. Some were fish hybrids of a mixed variety. There were even a few insect changelings bustling about.

But Elila was right. They had only traveled to one marshland and already Zeranna had seen countless mixed hybrids. Some were strange and extraordinary she couldn't even begin to pinpoint their heritage. In fact, one changeling seemed to actually be a cross between a dolphin and butterfly. The strangest thing was though; this oddly shaped changeling was beautiful. Even Zeranna could recognize her authentic splendor.

It was terribly bizarre for the shark to walk there amongst them. They didn't even look up at her. Normally, a Midali warrior commanded at least a passing glance. But Zeranna imagined that these creatures of the swamp had already seen a changeling of every shape and possible heritage. A purebred shark hybrid was surely nothing special to them.

She followed Elila as they wandered down the marsh. She could see a water village off the in distance. It looked like little more then a poor shantytown but Zeranna kept her mouth wisely shut. Obviously the hovelled grouping of tilted buildings off in the distance was home to many of these people.

And as they walked by, Zeranna found herself studying every single last one of them. It was strange though; she rarely saw a purebred of any kind. There were a few gators that looked to have a pedigree heritage. But she couldn't be certain.

As they got closer to the village, she even saw a few herons, They looked strikingly similar to Elila. And for what had to be the hundredth time she wondered how it was even possible that Elila carried a single ounce of jungle cat blood in her seemingly perfect blue heron veins.

They continued their journey as they past sunbathing possums, swimming dragonflies, and a pair of marsh wrestling gators. Suddenly Zeranna felt a bit overdressed as she realized that much like the Midali, this loose-knit tribe seemed to prefer scant clothing. She even noticed that some of the hybrids swimming and lounging off on the shallow swamp water were wearing nothing at all.

She imagined their clothing decision was one based on practical logic and not intuitive debauchery. She had heard the rumors about the strange sex one could find out in the darkened recess of the swamp. Local legend claimed that every single native inhabitant was an experienced whore born only to act out the most explicit of lusty fantasies.

And while Zeranna knew that that was certainly more myth then actual fact she could see some truth behind the rumor. Reasonably, she knew that any tribe that existed partially in water naturally preferred less clothing. Otherwise the simplest task could take on whole new levels of difficulty when faced with reality of constantly wet clothes.

More then that, the heat of the swamp was unbearable. It was thick and humid. It traveled across the water like a giant sweltering wave of molten lava. The climate alone could make the most devout prude remove every single stitch of their clothing.

But while she understood the logical reasons for their actions, innately she had sensed an undercurrent of raw sensuality. It was like watching a mystical romance unfold right before her very eyes. The waters of the swamp were still and dark. Yet it's people were vivid and bold.

Everyone around her was unique and wholly different then everyone else. And though they were all eclectic Zeranna could practically feel the bonds of their tribe. These were a people that must be handled with caution and care. But though she recognized the obvious danger, it did nothing to stop Zeranna from allowing her soul to envy every single last one of them.

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"I'm afraid you have bigger problems then Thash's anger." Neisha called out as she stormed into the room.

Both warriors sat up on the bed to stare at the disheveled woman. Something was wrong. Neisha seemed downright panic stricken.

"What is it?" Melaryn asked concerned that yet another member of the tribe had gone missing.

"It's Narlene. The Gallion authorities tracked down her last known location for me. Her credit slip was used at a disreputable nightclub called the "Claw" the night of the tribal banquet." Neisha explained as she furtively relayed the information given to her by the authorities.

"The Claw?" Melaryn asked never before having heard of the place.

"It's a seedy dive on the poor side of town. They specialize in all things freaky and kinky. What's happened? Why was she there?" Kellis asked inwardly hoping that her friends didn't ask where she had come across her information. She didn't want to have to admit that she had actually been there before.

"The Sentry went there to find her and check on her whereabouts. The registry has her signing in with you." Neisha asked as she crossed her arms rather sternly across her chest.

"Me? I took Narlene to the Claw??? There has to be some mistake. I wouldn't do that." Kellis answered relatively positive that she would never try to take a young aristocrat to a sexual pit of debauchery, no matter how intoxicated she may be.

"You don't remember anything about this???" Neisha stammered unwilling to believe that Kellis could have committed the terrible actions that had recently occurred.

"No, of course not. I told you the last thing I remember is sitting at the banquet with the rest of the tribe. Neisha, there has to be some mistake." Kellis answered raising her voice to a level that truly indicated her anxiety and fear.

"Neisha, what's happened? Where's Narlene?" Melaryn asked already worried by the fact that her wife hadn't returned with the young kitten in tow.

"The authorities questioned the employees of the Claw. They saw Narlene rent a room with a warrior that matches your description. The problem is that Narlene never checked out." Neisha answered unable to believe that what was supposed to be a nice and pleasant trip to the Gallion had turned into a twisted nightmare of deception and cruelty.

"What do you mean?" Kellis asked in a low-hushed whisper.

"They went up to her room and found the place covered in blood. There's no sign of Narlene. They said that the furniture is overturned and practically ripped to shreds. That said that it is quite obvious that there was some kind of a struggle. They tested the blood. It's jungle cat, young and female." Neisha explained hoping that at some point something she said might jog the memory of the warrior. Kellis was in a lot of trouble. And her previously unconscious state seemed to only be improving the shade of her guilt.

"I don't understand. I don't remember any of this. Where's Narlene? They have no idea where she could have gone. They didn't find anything???" Kellis stammered as she looked to her friend for help and support. Something terrible was going on but Kellis had absolutely no idea what could have possibly happened.

"That's the thing Kellis, there's too much blood to assume that she's gone anywhere. She's either dead or dying. Their medical experts say that she couldn't survive long with that amount of blood loss." Neisha answered as she watched the horror finally overwhelm the golden warrior.

"Oh no... this... it can't be. What's happening???" Kellis asked as she felt Melaryn embrace her in support.

"Kellis, I'm sorry. The Gallion Sentry is waiting downstairs. They're here to take you into custody." Neisha whispered as she leaned down to embrace the warrior as well. She didn't care what their experts or investigators said. She didn't believe for a moment that Kellis could have done the things that they were trying to imply.

"Oh god! This can't be happening..." Kellis gasped as she relied on her friend's to support her weakening frame. This was all too much for someone in her fragile condition. And before she knew what was happening, she had blacked out from the strain of an insurmountable emotional burden.

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"What's going on? Why is everyone following us?" Zeranna asked as they continued on towards the tiny water village. Elila looked at her a bit sideways as her comment hung there in the air between them.

"They aren't following us. It's the weather. Surely, you've heard of our climate?" Elila answered as she gestured to the pooling gray clouds filling the skyline overhead.

"Oh... is it going to rain then?" Zeranna asked as she noticed the appearance of a tiny wooden walkway off in the distance.

It seemed to float gently on the swamp water's surface. It didn't appear terribly stable as it bobbed up and down in the still muddy current. But it seemed strong enough as a steady stream of people crossed its surface to the tiny village beyond.

"Yeah. It's the rainy season here. It rains the same time everyday. Normally it's no big deal. The cloudbursts only last for a few moments. But it's going to be storm. And trust me, if you've never been to the swamp you've never seen real lightning." Elila explained as they patiently waited their turn to cross the tiny floating walkway.

"This doesn't seem terribly safe, does it?" Zeranna asked they finally crossed one right behind the other. The floating wooden boards weren't even wide enough to allow two of them to cross side by side.

"No, I suppose it's not. But the water here is shallow. You can walk right through it if you have to." Elila answered as she looked down to see a litany of hybrids do that very exact thing.

There were bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian hybrids of every shape and size lazily making their way through the humid waters of the swamp. No one was in a particular hurry. They still had a few more moments until the thunder came.

"How do you know it's going to storm?" Zeranna asked as she found her feet suddenly crossing the soggy bottom of an honest to goodness wet marsh.

There seemed to be a particular trick to walking across this substance. Its surface was slick, wet, and deep. She found herself having to take small baby steps to keep from tipping right over. She noticed Elila up ahead, patiently waiting for her. Apparently the heron had no such trouble crossing the surface of this terrain.

"Can't you feel it in the air? The crackling? It's going to be a big one. Look they've turned the burst protectors on." Elila commented as she pointed to the large beams of red light that had recently been activated all around the small village.

"What is that? What do they do?" Zeranna asked as she reached out to the heron hoping that Elila would possess the strength to steady them both.

But Elila only smiled, bemused by the shark's sudden lack of grace. Watching Zeranna try to move across the wet bottom was like watching a four-legged dog try to ice-skate. Though the entire scene was thoroughly amusing Elila was aware that time was of the essence.

She had lived through a great many storms without the benefit of burst protectors. She had always managed to survive relatively unscathed. She just seemed to have a knack for being in the wrong place when Mother Nature chose to have an all out watery temper tantrum.

But those experiences had taught her one thing. If at all possible she would prefer safety during a swamp storm. To accept anything else was to willingly partake in only the most hazardous danger.

Due to Zeranna's unsteady step they were the last couple to remain outside of the village's relative safety. The heron wasn't too terribly concerned. The rain had just broken. They were getting lightly misted and in this heat, Elila didn't mind the impromptu soak.

"Sorry..." Zeranna mumbled feeling terribly awkward as she had to lean on the heron for every step that she took.

"It's all right. It takes everyone some time to get acclimated. Don't worry...I'm sure you'll get used to it in no time." Elila answered trying her best to make the shark feel less self-conscious.The heron truly empathized with her. She knew all too well what it felt like to be the unfortunate center of attention.

"Come on... Let's walk over there. You can rest a bit." Elila suggested as she noticed that the shark seemed to be laboring a bit for breath.

She knew it probably had more to do with the rising humidity and pressure then the actually physical exertion of walking a few mere yards on the marsh. When the swamp had one of its blindingly furious storms occasionally, the rain clouds actually lowered to the very surface of the ground. If they didn't come all the way down they would at least lower to a point directly overhead making breathing difficult for those who weren't used to the sudden change in barometric pressure.

Elila had heard once that things didn't use to be like that, at least not here in the swamp. When the humans occupied this space of land they apparently had to contend with a rainy season as well.

But their clouds had stayed safely in the skyline billowing across the air like giant puffs of gray mist. It was the swamp gas that kept the clouds from reaching the sky. The violent red gas that kept the entire swamp wrapped in a virtual bubble forced these clouds low to the ground causing a veritable cornucopia of hazardous weather conditions.

And today's brewing storm was no different. Elila knew they would need to reach the safety of the village before the lightning began to stir. But they still had a few more moments. For now, she was content to allow the shark a moment's rest.

Wearily, Zeranna leaned her body against the small wooden pylon jutting up from the marsh's surface. She imagined it was here to serve as some sort of water marker. But she didn't give it much thought. Her lungs were struggling for breath. It felt like a two-ton weight had been dropped right onto her chest. She didn't know how the heron could tolerate it. But Elila just stood there smiling, apparently unaffected by their surrounding atmosphere.

"When we get to the village we'll stop at the market and pick you up an inhaler. I'm sorry. I should have thought of it before. I've never seen a shark hybrid before in the swamp. I've only ever known assorted fish. And the pressure changes don't seem to bother them. I just assumed your physiology would be the same." Elila explained wishing that she had thought ahead to get Zeranna the small portable inhaler that many tourists were forced to depend on.

The shark didn't answer. She only nodded her head while coughing a bit to try once again to clear her lungs. Zeranna just felt so heavy. It was like every inch of her body was ready to buckle under the weight of a million tons of pressure.

"I know this is probably quite painful, but it will pass. I promise. It hurts but you're not in any real danger. No one has ever died from the atmospheric pressure." Elila added trying to assuage the supreme look of fear she saw crossing the shark's features. Truthfully, she had no idea what Zeranna was going through. Her own body had no such trouble breathing the air of her native climate.

Quickly, she looked around as she noticed that the crackling in the air had abruptly stopped. Even the light misting rain had suddenly dried up. But the sky overhead had congealed into a giant wash of gray.

Elila knew all too well what it meant. It was the fleeting calm before the storm. And in any given second, the sky would open up drenching them in its anger. The thunder would scream. The lightning would flash. And they would be burnt in its natural fury.

Now she was growing worried, more for herself then Zeranna. The lightning was a true danger to them. But the water was more of a threat to her. If they were to still be standing there when the clouds burst; Elila knew that they would both wash away right down into the water of the swamp.

Zeranna could easily ride out a storm from the safety of the swamp's murky currents. But she couldn't. And Elila didn't want to risk another incident where drowning was a real possibility. She was about to recommend that the shark allow her body to fall right into the swamp waters. The wet bottom was surely slick enough now.

It would only take Zeranna a few moments to reach the water. Surely, the shark could survive the storm that long. But just when she opened her mouth to make that suggestion, a voice called out from behind.

"Hey, you two need some help?" Elila turned around to see gator changelings rapidly approaching from behind.

No one could move faster then a gator across the slick surface of a wet bottom. And instantly, the heron sighed in relief. It looked like they just might actually survive their first storm after all.

"Yes, please." Elila answered as she took a few steps back from Zeranna.

In the blink of an eye, the gators had crossed their path. Zeranna seemed alarmed and unsettled but she was in no condition to put up a fight. Quickly, each gator took one arm of the shark and pulled her along towards the village. Elila followed; content to move along at her own steady pace.

The air had begun to crackle again. But this time the heron wasn't worried. She was mere feet from the village's entry and even she could survive a storm for that long. In fact, the young heron wasn't even concerned with the wailing winds and rising water. Her mind had already paced ahead thinking of the first place she wanted to eat and the best location to find a nice warm bed for the night. Elila was already onto other things as she mentally planned out their next move and action to take.

That's why the voice surprised her so. She was lost in her own little world when the scream began. And with the brewing storm circling her body it took her awhile to detect its cadence over the clashing thunder. But eventually she heard it.

"ELILA!!! HELP ME!!!"

Instantly, the heron spun around looking for the source of the echo. At first, she thought that it had come from Zeranna. But after a few careful steps she came side by side with the gators and the shark.

All of them were stopped, looking around for the source as well. Who ever it was sounded petrified and wounded, almost like a dying animal. Their voice was so shrill and unearthly that without a doubt, Elila knew she was listening to someone's final death wail.

"It's coming from over there." Zeranna whispered still struggling for breath under the weight of the storm's pressure.

Elila looked in the direction that the shark had indicated. She was willing to go along with it. She knew that Zeranna's senses were far more keen then her own.

But what she saw shocked and horrified her. The small inner voice that warned her body of danger began to urgently demand that she take flight. There was something vile and lecherous in the small sleepy village of Glider's Hollow. And it was something so unspeakable that even Zeranna lurched into fits of hysterical screeching sobs.

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The gators had urged Zeranna forward making sure that she was safely within the bounds of the storm protectors. Elila had followed, also knowing that she must seek shelter from the lightning. But even though the red flashing bands of digital pulsed energy kept the dangerous electricity at bay. The small huddled group still had no shelter from the torrential downpour.

Elila turned to face the gators, frightened by the prospect that they would leave her all alone. Zeranna was thoroughly incapacitated by the raging winds and unfamiliar terrain. And the heron didn't want to be left defenseless, not with the sound of that screaming voice filling the air. And certainly not with the presence of that creature walking towards them.

She didn't know if it was decency or curiosity that kept the gator hybrids by her side. And frankly, Elila didn't care. She was at a total loss for form or function. Even now, over the razor sharp wind, that screeching cry could be heard.

"HELP ME - PLEASE!!!" The voice called out as the creature obviously struggled with every step that she took.

But Elila remained frozen in place. The wind and rain was knocking her every different direction but the heron didn't move. Part of her wanted to. Part of her wanted to aid this wounded creature.

Yet Elila knew there was nothing that she could do to help. It was quite obvious that this terrible action could not be undone. And the situation was far too hazardous to step blindly forward. The heron didn't have the first clue as to what was going on. But with the storm brewing confusion all around them, it was impossible to tell if they were actually safe and alone.

"Elila, don't move. Stay with us." Zeranna loudly advised as she inwardly screamed at the fact that she needed the assistance of these two strange hybrids even to stand.

"ELILA" The voice gasped again as it moved even closer. Each step it took the creature grew weaker. The heron knew it didn't have much time left.

And that's when her natural instincts took over. Her mind was telling her to listen to Zeranna and stay with the others. But her heart had other ideas.

So, she ran from their side knowing that it was her solace that this creature was seeking. This action was firmly against her better judgment. But Elila felt that she had no choice. She refused to let anyone die alone, even if it someone whose life had so adversely affected her own.

The heron ran forward in a rush of curiosity, fear, desperation, and empathy. She met up with the creature just as it legs were starting to wobble and give way to the natural gravity of things. Elila only stood there, with a wide open mouth and tearing eyes. She was at loss for the action required of her.

But this creature knew what to do. Her life was cresting right into its final moments. Her eyes were wide open and dilated. Elila couldn't even fathom how she had managed to move this far on her own damaged legs.

"Lies... all lies..." The choppy voice called out to her.

Elila watched as the creature trembled and shook. She wanted to reach out and steady it. She needed to offer this dying hybrid some last moments of comfort.

But Elila knew that she could never support the added body weight. She was helpless to do anything but stare. So she looked on, memorizing every last detail of this creature's painful demise.

She stood there before Elila, a bloody wash of pink satin, white lace and purple bruises. Her normally shiny blonde hair had been swept high atop her head. The design was intricate and appeared to have been done by a seasoned professional.

The long white lace veil that covered her features mostly obscured the creature's face. But Elila didn't need to lift the veil to know whom she was speaking to. She knew all too well who was dying right before her very eyes. Yet she was utterly powerless to stop it.

Under this torrential downpour the veil itself seemed to have the consistency of thick running cream. But it still wasn't enough to cover the smeared red lipstick. Nor was it able to cover the unblinking stare of this hybrid's water-stained eyes.

The satin pink gown that this creature wore was priceless, gorgeous and expertly designed in every conceivable manner. It was strapless allowing Elila to see the dark slashing that covered her shoulders. It's bodice was low-cut allowing Elila to yet again, see the marred and elaborate construction of cuts and bruises.

The satin gown finished its beauty with a gentle pool at this hybrid's shaking feet. The heron couldn't see a single inch of her wobbling legs but she suspected that they had faired no better then the rest of this creature's form. Surely, they were just as tattered and beaten.

Suddenly, Elila looked down noticing the elbow-length pink clothes that the hybrid wore on both arms. There was a large ruby colored ring fitting perfectly atop one satin finger. And that's when the heron had to take a step back to recover her bearings.

If she could only wipe away the smattering of bruises, welts, and cuts then Elila imagined that this creature had never looked so beautiful. This dress that she wore was a lush and stylized wedding gown that any young hybrid dreamed of wearing. And in any other situation or circumstance, the young heron suspected that Narlene would have walked through fire to merely feel its satin upon her skin.

But as it was, Elila knew that this was the very last piece of clothing that Narlene would ever wear. She was dying. The pearl handled dagger jutting out of her chest had seen to that.

The blood was easily flowing now and Narlene had gotten it all over her. Its red drops were running the length of her pretty pink dress. And it was on her hands, as if she had grabbed at the knife to try and pull it away herself. There were even bloody palm prints covering perfect lace Narlene's veil. And the effect, was nothing short of horrific.

This young jungle cat had probably never worn a more expensive piece of clothing. She had probably never looked more beautiful. But now, she was all covered in blood. And all Elila could seem to do was cry.

"Where am I?" Narlene whimpered as her body finally fell to the muddy ground beneath them. Elila only cried louder as Narlene looked around at her surroundings that were obviously quite foreign to her.

"Are you in pain?" Elila finally asked as she knelt down onto the ground next to the dying jungle cat.

"No... I can't feel... I'm scared, Elila... scared... I don't wanna leave..." Narlene whimpered as her words muddled together from an obvious lack of blood.

"Don't be scared. There's nothing to be afraid of. I promise. You're just going to go to a different place now." Elila mumbled as her brain suddenly flashed on all the information she had acquired in her childhood religious education.

But the heron was having such a hard time thinking and talking. She didn't know what to say to Narlene. And she was horrified by her own impotence.

"I'm all alone now... I didn't wan...die alone." Narlene whispered as her bloody satin ran into the mud washing between their bodies.

"You're not alone. I'm here. And my friends are right over there. There's an entire village of people right behind you. It's the rain. You just can't see, because of the rain..." Elila explained as she became hysterical in her own terrified grief.

"Oh, you're crying." Narlene suddenly exclaimed as she lifted a careless bloody hand to the skin of the heron's cheek. Elila tried not to wince at the contact. But it was an odd sensation to know that her own face had just been covered in blood.

"I never liked you. But I can't even remember now...why." Narlene muttered as she removed her hand and lay back in the running ground as if to simply fall asleep.

"It's okay. It's... over now." Elila said as she placed a gentle and comforting hand on the jungle cat's arm. Narlene didn't answer. And even through the creamy veil the heron could tell that Narlene's eyes had suddenly closed. With her other hand Elila wiped at her own eyes knowing that now, everything was over.

"The dragon... Elila... you have to find the dragon." Narlene managed to whisper before she fell into what had to be a final state of unconsciousness.

The heron only looked at her in confusion as she realized that Narlene was never going to speak again. And she had no idea what the young cat had been referring to. It was all over. But with Narlene's passing came a wide berth of questions that Elila suddenly wanted answers to.

What had happened to this young healthy cat? And why in the world was she in swamp? Yet the heron knew that her questions would have to wait because now, she had a tribe mate to grieve for. And with much inner surprise, Elila found herself truly devastated by the loss.

"Oh god... hey call the ERT's we got a problem!" Elila heard the familiar accent of native swamp kin come up behind her.

"Hey you okay?" Elila felt her body roughly turned as she came face to face with a wolf hybrid.

"Yeah... fine." The heron muttered as she felt this stranger wipe away the blood that Narlene had placed on her cheek.

"Did you know her?" The wolf asked wondering what business a heron could possibly have with a jungle cat.

"Yeah... Narlene. Her name... was Narlene." Elila answered as she felt strong arms lift her up and away from the bed.

"Come on...we have to get you back up to the village. Whoever did this, they could still be around." The wolf said as she practically carried Elila to safety.

But the heron didn't mind. She was in no condition to move of her own volition. And she could only stare as Narlene's blood washed away in the falling rain.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 27

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"Hey, come on. Say something to me. Please?" Zeranna rambled as she unsuccessfully tried to lodge the heron from her silent mental musings.

Elila had been nothing but unresponsive since the wolf had pulled her away from Narlene's dead body. Narlene... The name meant nothing to Zeranna. But the wolf told her that Elila had identified the fallen and bloody jungle cat.

"Here, get her to drink some of this." The sudden voice of a stranger called out.

Zeranna turned to find one of the casually dressed members of the wait staff standing behind her. This tavern that they had both been led into was not the sort of place that the shark would normally choose to frequent. But it was were the gators had led her to. And it was where the wolf had left Elila.

The tilted and hanging sign above the door read "Storm Harbor." And its neon lettering seemed to welcome everyone in sight. The small wooden tavern was littered with what had to be every single hybrid in a fifty-mile radius.

The tavern itself was built high atop what appeared to be a wobbly pair of unstable wooden stilts. Zeranna imagined the frame was designed to protect the establishment and its patrons should the surrounding swamp water level suddenly rise. But the inside of the place, was just as colorless as its exterior surface.

Everything in site was a drab shade of faded wood. The tables and chairs were all broken and coming apart. There was an old-fashioned electronic arcade machine flashing in the distant background. But none of it was of any interest to Zeranna.

Elila wasn't speaking to anyone. And the shark could only assume that it had everything to do with the shock and fury of recent events. But beyond the heron's quiet and unsettling manner, Zeranna had all the other unpleasant qualities of the small tavern's environment to deal with.

She was the only shark hybrid in the place. And though that wasn't a realization that she found particularly noteworthy, it did explain why she seemed to be the only one woefully displeased by the massive amounts of sensory input. There were other hybrids and changelings standing about that had equally potent senses of vision or hearing. She knew for a fact that the wolf hybrid standing over in the distant corner must be having an equally intolerable time with the sound level of the pounding music.

But despite the varied presence of hybrids, Zeranna was well aware of the fact that she was the only one in the tavern with all five of her senses heightened and in many ways hyper acute. The pounding rhythmic music was both dark and technotronic. And its chords were filled with unusual patterns but its rhythm was steady.

In the center of the small wooden floor, the shark watched as many hybrids danced to the raging music. All though, Zeranna realized that 'dance' was a term that could really only be loosely applied. They were all flailing their legs and arms about without rhyme or apparent reason.

But Zeranna did notice one thing, the couples that graced the floor were still finding some way to manage a steady grinding motion against the wet heat of each other's body's. And they were all wet. The rain had seen to that.

And it wasn't just couples that Zeranna saw. There were groups of hybrids and changelings locked together in what could only be described as some sort of rhythmic orgy. It was the heat, it had to be.

Even though the rain continued to pour down all around them the interior temperature was unbearable. It was making everyone in sight act wild and unrestrained. Everywhere, hybrids were ripping off vital pieces of clothing like they were shedding little more then a pair of shoes. When in essence, Zeranna was catching lurid eyefuls of naked flesh in every different direction. Apparently, the action of bearing ones breasts in public was considered wholly acceptable to these marsh-lively folks.

And as much as it pained her to admit it, Zeranna found her own body responding to the movements of so many others. These people had no inhibitions or care for modesty. They were primal and heated to a frenzy. And between the sweat, wet heat, and pounding blood the shark found her mind switching to a more instinctual state of thought. With the beat of so many different hearts surrounding her own humid flesh, Zeranna found her bloodlust quickening with every rhythmic pound.

"What is it?" Zeranna asked as she took a steaming mug of fluid from the waitress standing at her side.

She noticed that this particular server was still clothed despite the fact that many of her co-workers had already stripped down. The shark was momentarily grateful for small miracles. She didn't think she could handle such intimate proximity to the nakedness of forbidden flesh.

"Well, java juice for her and rollen juice for you." The waitress explained as she took a tall frothy glass of rollen juice off her tray as well.

"Thanks, but we didn't order this. If there's a fee to remain inside this place just let me know what it is, I'll pay it." Zeranna answered as she quickly removed her credit slip from her pants' pocket.

The waitress didn't say anything at first. She just stood there staring at the shark with clear insult written all over her features. And Zeranna could only guess at what her offense had been. She hadn't meant any harm but clearly, something had been misconstrued.

"This isn't about any fee. There's a storm raging outside. We'd have to be heartless to send anyone out in that weather. You can stay in here, if you buy anything or not.

This is about you and your friend. In case you haven't noticed she's not looking so good. She needs something warm to wake her up.

And you have been sitting here eying every piece of young nubile talent in the place. We don't get many of your kind around here. But I've heard the rumors. I know what you sharks are capable of once you get all hopped up.

From the looks of your unblinking eyes and swollen lips, I'd say you're ready to sample some of the local goods. We'll these people aren't used to the bite of your kind. Sure we get gators, wolves, even the occasional water moccasin... But not sharks... You could do some real damage if you're not careful. And this... this is to help you take the edge off before you cause a problem." The waitress explained in a soft voice that made Zeranna instantly sorry that she had questioned this young woman's motives.

The server picked up the rollen juice and carefully placed it in the shark's hand. Zeranna knew that this young woman was right. She was in a bad way and maybe a nice tall glass of sweet rollen juice was exactly what she needed.

After all, it's not like this problem was going to suddenly go away. As far as she could tell she and Elila were trapped in the Storm Harbor for the time being. And as the night progressed, the shark suspected that the abject nudity and public displays of sexuality would only advance as well.

Her blouse certainly wasn't going to become any looser. Her breasts were already amply filling the synthetic material. Even her pants were uncomfortably tight and thoroughly wet. Although the shark couldn't be absolutely certain that the dampness was a sole result of the torrid rainfall....

"Thank you...I'm sorry." Zeranna mumbled but to no apparent avail.

The waitress only turned around and left as quickly as she came. And the shark was left with a rather strange problem unfolding before her. Numbly, she passed the steaming cup to Elila hoping that heron might respond just enough to drink from it.

And as if to rouse from an unconscious like stupor, Elila reached down and blindly grabbed at the cup. Zeranna watched on as the heron rapidly downed the steaming fluid that had gone out of fashion so long ago. As far as she knew the swamp was the only place around that still sold java juice. A bitter tasting beverage that had gone out of style with the rest of humanity had no market in a global village of hybrids. Java juice was chalked full of addicting stimulants.

Though the dark-colored drink had little in the way of lasting effect on the humans that drank it; with the hybrids, it was another story entirely. Most changelings experienced an immediate change in their respective levels of speed and strength. And though the change was always positive, creating an enhanced state of being that may otherwise not be felt, it was the withdrawal that hybrids couldn't tolerate. Coming down from a java high was something akin to sheer torture for many of the hybrids that sampled its bitter bounty.

Predators however, suffered a more drastic change in their physiology when under the influence of the java bean. Of course, it was nothing as drastic as jolari root. Or Zeranna doubted that even a swamp establishment would sell it out in the unhindered open.

But still, ingesting large quantities of java could induce even the most stoic and peace minded predator to enter a blood frenzy that many didn't posses the strength to return from. Zeranna had heard that it had even happened in her tribe once. Some young ones wanted to find out just how strong and fast they could become when under the influence of the dark bean. Yet in the end, the resulting blood frenzy drove them insane.

She geared up her mind and readied her voice to issue her concerns to Elila. Zeranna inwardly confessed that while she didn't know much of anything about heron physiology she doubted that Elila's jungle cat side would respond well to such a large and sudden consumption of java juice. But even though she had all the best of intentions in the world, Zeranna never got to finish her strain of concerned thoughts.

Before she could say one single word, the wolf hybrid returned. But this time she had a rather familiar form tagging along at her side. Zeranna looked up more then a little shocked to find Carielle here in this strange and dangerous place.

"It's a small world these days, Elila..." Carielle muttered as she placed her hands on the heron's stiff and quivering shoulders.

Zeranna had no idea what was going on but frankly, she didn't care. She was simply relieved to see Carielle because right now, the normally loyal shark didn't trust her own judgment. At the moment, Zeranna's bloodlust was rising to painfully high altitudes and the shark had no idea how to relieve her sudden sweltering tension.

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In the swamp the rain could pour for days. It would come down in thick penetrating sheets of angry wet fury. The thunder would roll and the lightning would flash. Then the waters would rise creating a veritable liquid playground for the swamp's native inhabitants.

Carielle found the whole thing quite frightening, disconcerting to say the least. It made her feel small and insignificant. Like she was nothing more then a piece of sand to be washed away in the roar of the swamp.

Slowly, she entered the heron's temporary place of lodging. Elila had booked them all into this stilted building that was apparently the only true hotel in Glider's Hollow. Carielle was truly grateful to have crossed paths with the heron and Zeranna. She was feeling horribly out of place when it was announced to the village that the storm center had set and they all needed to become quite comfortable with one another. In fact, she had had no idea how to even cope with the prospect of being trapped in this small village for several lengthy days.

"I spoke with Yamina. She told me that they've arrested Kellis." Elila called out to the shadowy form of her intruder.

She didn't need to turn around to know that it was Carielle. For days now the shark had been hovering rather closely. At first, Elila had assumed that Carielle was worried about her emotional state. And even though she was relatively certain that the tall alpha shark had a strong and caring spirit, she doubted strongly that Carielle would play at being nursemaid. No, the heron was beginning to feel that something else entirely was transpiring all around her.

"I heard the same thing..." Carielle answered as she lurked in the doorway of Elila's private room. The heron was seated on the balcony looking out at the approaching storm. There were few moments of calm in this particularly grueling storm. And Elila had every intention of enjoying this soft moment of respite.

"You've spoken with Pedryn then?" Elila asked thinking that the shark had surely discussed this latest development with her cousin.

"No." Carielle answered always the warrior of little words when it came to matters of importance.

"You should call her. She probably knows more then Yamina. She's a bit higher up on the tribal social ladder." Elila stated with a mild scold to her voice.

But Carielle didn't answer. She only stared at the breaking lightning off in the distance. Ice had urged her to do the very same thing. The Queen's agents had informed them of Kellis' arrest.

Yet, Carielle knew that both of her friends were right. Pedryn would surely know more intimate details about the current situation. Carielle just couldn't bear to call her cousin. She didn't want to lie to her. She couldn't lie to her. She had promised Pedryn that she would never dishonor their relationship by spilling deceit between them.

But now, she was in service to the Queen and under royal mandate not to disclose the details of the arrangement. She couldn't disobey Queen Welaria. And the conflict between her duty and her morals was leaving the young shark in quite the predicament.

"You should come inside. You'll get wet if you stay out any longer." Carielle muttered as she walked into the relative warmth of the rented room.

Eventually, Elila followed her in. But not before the heron had managed to soften her features with the silky shine of a hot humid rain. Elila looked terribly lurid in her gauzy white dress. In this native state where her dark features were common and expected, Carielle suddenly found the heron strangely alluring. For the first time the shark fully understand why Pedryn was so thoroughlycaptivated with her.

"Here's the number. You call her. I can't." Carielle stated as she handed Elila her hand-held communicator.

"Why?" Elila softly asked as she took the shiny piece of technology and fingered the private number of Pedryn's secure line.

She stared down at the digits briefly and then demurely returned her gaze to the shark standing before her. She didn't want Carielle to know how quickly she had memorized the number. Elila couldn't be certain of course, but she suspected that this was exactly the type of information that might be useful at some point in time.

"It doesn't matter Elila. But you're right. Someone should talk to her. Someone should find out what she knows." Carielle answered as she crossed the room in a slow easy gait.

Being around these swamp folk had taught her a few things. And one was the benefit of an easy stealth. The hybrids here could move just as fast as any other tribe in the kingdom. But their advantage was surprise. The gators here had a way of making prey think that they were safe and sound.

That was the rhythm of things here. The music of the hunt was slow and steady. It lulled and soothed unsuspecting hybrids. And before the victim even knew that they had in fact found the very jaws of death, it was too late. The whole thing could be over in a heartbeat. And the shark in Carielle avidly admired their ways.

"This has to do with you working for the Queen, doesn't it?" Elila innocently asked as she watched the shark spin around in a rather uncharacteristic manner of alarm.

"That is why you're suddenly best friends with a wolf, isn't it?" Elila added as she sat down at the end of her bed and waited for the shark's response. But it was clear that Carielle had nothing to say. She only stood there stupefied and tongue-tied.

"Oh, don't look so shocked everyone here knows. The gators in the bar, they said that you smelled of snow. And not just any snow, the pure kind. The kind that only falls on the Changing Grounds...

And if I remember correctly it wasn't more then a few days ago that Pedryn was asking me where you had gone off to. You disappear from the Gallion Village and show up in Glider's Hollow with a wolf-hybrid. I may not be a detective but even I can put these pieces together.

Besides, we swamp folk are no stranger to the fine upstanding citizens of the Royal Kingdom. They come here. The Queen's most trusted servants... They come here to sample our, how should I put it...sensual and criminal ingenuity.

The very second you two set foot on this boggy marsh your rather crisp aroma of fine royalty was well detected by the surrounding populace. But don't worry; no one here is a real threat to your identity. After all, I've heard that the Specter herself has been here on more then one occasion." Elila explained as she toyed with the mechanical trappings of the shark's shiny communicator.

For a few long moments, Carielle didn't answer. She couldn't, she was too overwhelmed. She had always heard that here in the swamp, information traveled like wildfire. In fact, that's what had brought them in the first place. They were starting here. They had come in search of their rogue predator.

"The question is why would Queen Welaria enlist your services? And why come here? With a wolf no less... I must confess Carielle, I find the whole thing terribly intriguing." Elila stated as she leaned back onto her bed fanning her long raven hair across the surface of the mattress.

"I can't discuss it." Carielle answered given the paten response she was so used to giving her tribe mates.

"Mmmm... that's too bad. I thought that perhaps you had been summoned to help track down that predator. You know, the one that killed all those hybrids in the Outlands." Elila stated clearly teasing the shark with her knowledge. The heron had spent the day swapping stories and trading information with the local barflies. And now, Carielle knew that the Queen's most guarded secret was slowly becoming public knowledge.

"HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT???" Carielle demanded unwittingly giving into the rising anger of her native shark blood. But thankfully, the heron didn't seem frightened or concerned by her display. If anything, Elila seemed downright amused.

"Nothing...And I mean nothing goes on anywhere in the Animal Kingdom without the swamp knowing about it." Elila answered as she watched the shark pace the floor in an angry fury of bewilderment and rage.

"Oh, don't get all worked up. I mean, that is why you came here isn't it? You need the tracking know how in order to hunt down this beast. And we meager swamp folk happen to be able to point you in the right direction. That is, if you ask nicely." Elila added as she sat up on her bed clearly enjoying the delicious fact that for once she knew something that the shark didn't.

"You know something." Carielle stated in a soft whisper as she managed to get her shocked anger under control. She approached the heron in only the most demure manner and very softly beseeched the girl with her eyes.

"Whatever you know Elila, you have to tell me. This is serious. Please?" Carielle asked hoping that the heron wouldn't attempt to barter for the one piece of information that she simply couldn't give up.

"I'll play nice. If you do something for me... There's something I want to know. See that's how things work here. I believe the ancient humans called it quid pro quo. I tell you mine if you tell me yours." Elila explained as she kneeled up on her bed clearly excited by the small bit of factual exchange.

She couldn't help it. She was in her native land, surrounded by her tribe mates and doing the only thing that came naturally to her people. Even after Narlene's death, the heron was finding herself growing rather cozy in her familiar stomping ground.

"Alright Elila, what do you want to know?" The shark asked feeling the walls of her very heart hammer and shake.

She summoned her every bit of strength and courage to desperately hope that Elila wouldn't ask about that night with Pedryn. She just couldn't handle having to relive that event right now. And besides, she had already explained to the heron what would happen if she were forced to break her silence.

"It's simple really. You tell me exactly why you've virtually joined to my hip. And don't say it's just because you're worried. It's something more then that. You know something. This has to do with Narlene. I know the locals let you and Ice tour the crime scene. So I want to know what's going on. What did you find and what does it have to do with me? So, you spill your secrets and I'll tell you all about this strange place called Bloodless and how the people there actually spoke with your hidden beast." Elila explained as she stared directly into the shark's eyes.

Carielle took a deep slow breath, grateful that Elila had no desire to discuss that fateful night on the water. But she coiled at the mention of Bloodless. She heard that name spoken in only the most hushed of whispers.

Unlike Elila though, the local swamp folk had a way of growing eerily silent whenever she was around. She had no idea what this Bloodless was but she had a gnawing suspicion that soon, she would find herself there with Elila and Ice right at her side. Because it was slowly becoming clear that if she was going to navigate the rather subtle and dangerous nuances of the swamp's information network, she would need Elila to come along as a seasoned guide.

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The odor was overwhelming. It was like being held hostage by an army of foul smelling dirt, grime, and the lowliest of scum. It was cheap, horrific, and repugnantly violent. And Kellis couldn't help but know that on a deeply inherent level, she was above it all. She had been a guest of the local Gallion Village criminal justice detainment center for the better part of twelve long hours. And the stale monotony was threatening to break her already rather frazzled defenses.

She hadn't been allowed any visitors or even the assistance of counsel, as was the usual custom of the Gallion Village. Here in the nexus of the Animal Kingdom the local government was no stranger to the frequent criminal activities of whores, thieves, and of course the often gory violence of tribal conflict. This particular brand of justice was like no other. Their means were thorough, notoriously fair, but always painfully slow and decisively cautious.

The Gallion Village banked its entire economy on tourism and the yearly parade of events that it alone hosted. Tribes traveled from every corner of the globe to attend the Vestiva, the Sacred Core, and of course the time of the Gallion. The inherent well being and livelihood of the Gallion's native dwellers depended on a strong influx of tourists and highly populated events. That's why in the Gallion, no crime ever went unpunished. Its tourists, shopkeepers, and tavern owners had to feel safe. Even if it meant an innocent young Fasara warrior had to suffer through the rather lengthy pains of the Gallion justice system.

And Kellis knew that she was innocent, even if she couldn't remember the details of the night in question. She would never murder anyone. In battle, fighting for the land of her people, other warriors had fallen before her. But not murder, she wasn't capable of something so cold-blooded and despicable.

Certainly, she would never have harmed Narlene. The young aristocrat had been her friend and a casual bit of love play. She would never have attacked and murdered her; it just wasn't even a remote possibility.

The authorities had to be mistaken. Kellis didn't know who had accompanied Narlene to the Claw, but she knew without a doubt that it couldn't have been her. All she had to do was be patient and they would let her go.

Since her arrest, the detention officer had only spoken with her briefly. On some level it annoyed the prime golden warrior that she was being judged and investigated by a mere eagle changeling. But Kellis supposed that it would have to do for now, at least until Thash arrived.

She had no doubt that at this very moment her own tribal alpha was raising a furious ruckus on behalf of her innocence. That was the one principal of Gallion law that she could abide by. If any arrest occurred the tribal alpha was notified immediately.

She looked around at the assorted variety of criminals and lowlifes that surrounded her. In a way, she couldn't help but feel sorry for them. They were all alone in the world without a single friend to their name. They weren't lucky. They weren't important. And obviously, they weren't the premier warriors of their tribes.

But Kellis was different from all of them. She had many friends. And many of them were powerful influential people. In fact, at this very moment she suspected that Melaryn was personally notifying every single socially powerful hybrid that she had ever known and pleading her innocence. Enough people owed her favors. She was a warrior after all. It was her job to protect and help those in need. Now, it was her turn to receive a little assistance.

And besides, Kellis was hardly worried. Why turn to friends when she had the support of Thash? Her tribal alpha had a notorious temper. She also was infamous for her tribal loyalty, power, and high-ranking kingdom connections. There was nothing for her to worry about. As soon as Thash arrived, she would be on her way back to the Fasara Village.

And then, they could start to work out this huge ordeal. She imagined that Elila was back already. The heron had surely heard by now of Narlene's tragedy and her own unfortunate imprisonment.

Even if Elila had run away to the swamp, which is what Kellis assumed to be the case, there was no question in her mind that the heron would make a speedy return.
Though there was certainly no love loss between Elila and Narlene, the golden warrior firmly believed in the loyalty of tribal lines. The heron would return for the upcoming death rituals. She was the only daughter of the tribal alpha. To not return would show grave disrespect to both Thash and Narlene's family. Elila was nothing if not courteous and dutiful. She would be there and play her part as perfectly as always.

Even further motivation to return was of course her mistaken incarceration. She suspected that the heron would be waiting with open and comforting arms for her as soon as she was released. But she knew that Elila wouldn't be the only voluptuous hybrid waiting patiently for her return. She was certain that Zelsi would be around, waiting to comfort her. And there would be others too, nameless faces of woman that had kept her warm for the span of long cooling nights.

It was strange though, given the relative uncertainty of their relationship. There was no one she was looking forward to seeing more then Elila. Even though she had only been locked away for one long and torturous day, Kellis found herself deliriously excited to see the familiar form of the heron.

Recently, she had begun to feel like perhaps she wasn't spending enough time with Elila. The time of the Gallion was such a magic and romantic event. And yet, she couldn't even remember the last time that she and Elila had sat down and shared a meal. Oh, they had technically broken mutual bread at the award ceremony. But that hardly counted. They weren't alone. They hadn't spoken. And Kellis found herself filling with the pangs of unanswered questions.

Twice in recent days the heron had gone missing. The first time she had returned to the tribal fold on the arm of a shark warrior. And this time, her whereabouts were still technically unknown. Although Kellis assumed that Elila would only return to the swamp. No other place on the globe would hold any fascination for the young heron.

Thinking about the heron though made her remember the last night that they had spent together. Elila had woken up kicking and screaming from a nightmare that had obviously terrified her. The heron had left then and wandered away to parts unknown.

Kellis knew then that something was bothering the heron. But she could only assume that to a warrior, it would be inconsequential. She had asked both Thash and Tezara about Elila's strange moods and behavior. And both of her parents had repeatedly told her not to worry. They assured her that nothing was wrong.

They claimed that Elila was only suffering the anxieties womanhood. Eventually she would calm down and right herself. She simply needed to find a life mate and fruitfully bear offspring.

But now, in the aftermath of all that had transpired Kellis couldn't help but wonder if something more was actually going on. Elila didn't just run off to the swamp without good reason. The last time she had left Thash had nearly murdered her upon return. Kellis couldn't imagine that the heron would risk her alpha's anger like that for no good reason.

And then, there was the strange connection to the Midali tribe. Elila had seemed rather cozy with one of their strongest warriors. Then there was the unsettling familiarity with Pedryn. The alpha shark had very clearly played hostess to their heron. And Kellis couldn't even begin to guess as to why. The sharks weren't exactly known for their hospitality.

No, things where Elila was concerned were certainly not adding up. And it was time to take a closer look at the heron and all her most recent of actions. And that's precisely what Kellis intended to do, just as soon as they released her from this diminutive and revolting prison.

And as the seconds ticked by in an all too slow and painful manner, Kellis felt herself growing restless and agitated. The authorities had quickly placed her in the general detention holding area. It was a large cell comprised of tall steel bars.

But those at the Gallion were no stranger to the many skills and abilities of a stronger changeling. Surrounding the large steel cage was a perimeter of blinding electrical beams. Kellis imagined that these hybrid made volts of lethal energy were even more potent then the famed and notoriously lethal swamp lightning.

She wasn't afraid of the cage that they had placed here in. As long as she stayed quiet and cordial like a good hybrid Kellis knew that she was quite safe from the searing voltage. It was the noise that had begun to wear on her nerves. The beams created this unceasing hum that seemed to penetrate her skin and make her very bones vibrate.

The whole thing wouldn't be so bad if they would at least provide the prisoners with a window to look out or an entertainment console to watch. Instead, they were trapped in the basement of what had to be the oldest building in the entire Gallion Village. The place smelled of disease and death. And for a moment, Kellis had to wonder if this place was actually a throw back to the times when humans actually walked the planet.

But the worst part of the whole experience had to be the company that now she was forced to keep. The cell was filled to its maximum. And since it was the time of the Gallion, Kellis found herself quite unsurprised by the fact.

All in all, she considered herself lucky that she had somehow managed to find a small space of vacant bench to rest upon. She was still recovering from the effects of the jolari overdose. And in a time like this, she would hate to have to defend herself.

And since the young warrior had no doubt that she was surrounded by thieves, whores, and only the most unscrupulous of murders Kellis knew that she might be forced to fight. Slowly, she looked around at her surrounding company careful not to make eye contact with anyone. In a place like this, a mere visual gaze would of course be seen as an unqualified challenge.

But as she scanned her new acquaintances Kellis found herself focusing on the form of one very scantily clad hybrid. Even from the back, Kellis instantly recognized her. Immediately Kellis wished that she could dig her way right through the very cement found at her feet. That woman knew her...she knew her well. And if the authorities questioned her Kellis had no doubt that she would find herself a permanent guest of the Gallion prison.

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Darkness had faded long ago. And now, the sunlight danced across the snow making it seem as if lengthy fields of pure white diamonds surrounded the entire village. It was a startling effect. And one that wasn't lost on the secluded ruler of the land.

On day as bright and beautiful as this one, the ice flows could be seen from miles away. Even the air was a special flavor of crisp as it whispered it pureness all across the wintry continent. But the Queen only wished that she could move beyond her castle walls long enough to take one long deep breath.

The holiday season was rapidly approaching. The normally busy streets and throughways of the Changing Grounds were packed full of hybrids and changelings as they wandered about their business. They all seemed so happy and content. Their world was safe and peaceful. Truly, they have much to be grateful for.

And how she longed to be amongst them, if only for a day. She wanted to walk with her people. She wanted to talk with them. For just one day she wanted to be ordinary.

But she was the Queen and as such, she received no such break from her royal duties. Besides a trip amongst the general populace was nothing short of completely impossible. Everyone knew the form and feature of Queen Welaria. Surely, she couldn't move beyond the castle wall without suffering the attention of a thronging mob.

Yet, she knew that it was the price of her birthright. And sometimes when she lay alone listening to the sound of the ice melt and the snow crunch, the young Queen wondered if perhaps the price hadn't been a bit too high. It's not like she was ever asked to lead the Animal Kingdom. She was simply told, molded, and educated to be the ruler of her people. There would be no reprieve from the demands of a predetermined fate.

"The holidays are upon us again." The Queen idled as she stared at her kingdom from the lofty tower of her official throne room.

The Specter had been quite disturbed by having to meet her Queen in such a public manner. But upon arrival, she was gratified to see that the Queen had dismissed all of her attending servants. They were very much alone in this huge monstrosity of a room.

The Specter didn't spend much time in the more official areas of the castle. She much preferred the more intimate setting of the Queen's unofficial private domain. But this would have to do for now. And she would have to make the best of things.

But it was hard to put herself at ease when the powerful and imposing silhouette of the Queen's jewel ensconced throne beckoned from the distance. As tradition dictated the throne was set high above on a platform constructed of carved white marble. There was even a long red velvet carpet leading up to the Queen's royal chair.

There were flat marbles pews on the distant side of the room. And the Specter had attended enough royal functions to know that those were the seats that housed the staff and plebeians as they waited for their business to be attended. Overhead was the largest and most ornate chandelier in all the land. It had been designed specifically for the Queen's throne room by the white owl tribe of the northern plane. It served to remind of tribal loyalty.

And to the Specter, it helped remind her that the Queen was a hybrid. She wasn't omniscient or divine. She was one of them. She too came from a tribe. She too had a distant home with a family and friends. It was far too easy to forget about Welaria and her more normal attributes. At times, the Specter became so overwhelmed by the woman's genius that she found herself convinced that this small owl was surely born of the gods.

Today though, there was no need to illuminate the giant chandelier. The bright light of day was surely enough to guide their movements. And with the Queen's tower solely encased by glass, the Specter found herself nearly blinded by the light. The shimmering effect from the snowdrifts below was harsh on her changeling eyes. And for the hundredth time the Specter gave serious wonder as to how anybody enjoyed life on this icy continent.

Slowly, the Specter moved towards her Queen. She could only see Welaria's glowing silhouette as she kept her back to her faithful servant. She was dressed in the more traditional flowing white silk robes of her station. And her hand was braced firmly against her scepter for support.

Today though, her servants had truly outdone themselves. Her brilliant red hair had been piled high atop her head and then intricately braided into the cut and structure of her crown. And as her mistress finally turned to face her, the Specter couldn't help but think that surely Welaria was the very perfect picture of what it means to be the royal snow queen.

"They seem happy, don't they?" The Queen asked as her speech sounded particularly crisp and cordial.

The Specter studied her ruler knowing full well that the Queen's symptoms progressed as the day wore on. Being midday, the Queen was still rested and peaceful. It was a nice change and one that didn't go by unappreciated by the Specter. Though she firmly believed that even during times of exhausted shakes and inappropriate motor function the Queen was the most beautiful woman in all the land. It was hard for anyone to hold a candle to Welaria. The Queen radiated a light of pure love and incandescent wisdom. And time and time again, the Specter found herself responding like a shark to the water.

"Yes my lady. The Winter Festival brings out the best in everyone." The Specter commented knowing that now was the time for the kingdom to focus on matters of charity, gratitude, and celebration.

"I only wish the Fasara would get in the spirit of things. Then perhaps I too could feel the ease that my people are sharing in." The Queen idled as she watched a small hybrid jump into the arms of her waiting mother.

They were all so blindly content. If only they knew what was really going on the Queen suspected that no one would sleep again. If anyone found out about the predator the results would be disastrous.

Hunting parties would form all across the globe. The populace wouldn't be stopped, not until the draw of blood. And as soon as the spark of violence was lit it wouldn't extinguish until the tribes ended it with war.

And the Queen was determined to go to any length to prevent another tribal conflict. She would unify the tribes in a way that her predecessor had never been able to accomplish. She would bring universal peace to the earth once and for all. But first, she had to find some way to deal with Thash and the bloodthirsty jungle cats.

"The Fasara? I hear that things are digressing on that front." The Specter commented realizing that she wasn't quite as informed as she should be. Searching for this rogue predator was her first and foremost concern. The usual conflict of tribal lines would have to wait until she had once again restored safety to the Outlands.

"Digressing... Try falling apart. You've heard that Kellis was arrested?" The Queen asked as she braced one gloved hand against the frosty window glass for support.

The Specter watched on having to resist her every urge to offer the Queen the support of her own two hands. Why didn't her lady ever turn to her for assistance? She would gladly do anything to provide comfort to Welaria. She could only wish that one day the Queen would see that her feelings ran far beyond the dutiful diligence of a simple servant.

"I have been informed of that. Do you believe she killed that girl? Narlene was it?" The Specter asked having little in the way of knowledge on the character and personality of the Fasara's premier warrior.

"No, I don't believe that. But someone killed her. And now the entire jungle village is in crisis." The Queen snapped as her usually calm eyes betrayed an anger that burned with the fuel of an old and tired conflict.

"Crisis? I don't understand." The Specter asked as she patiently folded her black-gloved hands before her.

She had to do something with them. The urge to reach out for her Queen was nearly more then she could tolerate. She has served Welaria since she was a mere child. Their relationship had been a long and fulfilling one. But she was the Queen's servant, nothing more. It was just so hard to accept that at times, especially when they were standing so very close.

"Thash was counting on Kellis as an heir. She was to marry Elila and secure the throne. But now, if the true murderer isn't found Thash will have to name a new premier warrior.

And Thash's rule will be in complete jeopardy. It will only be a matter of time before the new warrior challenges Thash. When that happens the tribal council will have no choice but to demand the removal of Thash, Tezara, and Elila. And I don't think that I have to remind you of what happened the last time a Fasara tribal alpha was removed from power? The cycle of revenge and vengeance still hasn't stopped." The Queen explained as she gripped the handle of her scepter with an even tighter clutch.

"Who will it be? Who will replace Kellis?" The Specter asked curious as to the politics motivating the actions taking place all around the Gallion Village.

"Truly, Melaryn is next in line. Thash will have a difficult time maneuvering her out of the way again. And if Melaryn ascends to the position of golden warrior I can promise you that war will be imminent. Melaryn is happily married with two children. Her ability to secure the throne is immediate. Thash won't allow that to happen. She'll start a conflict first." Welaria explained as she leaned her entire body flush against the window for support.

She exhausted so easily these days. And discussing the jungle cats filled her with nothing but sadness. Dealing with Thash could ruin even the healthiest of persons.

"But what can Thash really do? Unless she intends to clear Kellis' name and track down Narlene's murderer herself I can't imagine that there's anything she can do to stop Melaryn from ultimately seizing power of the tribe." The Specter asked bewildered by the shrewd politics the Queen had to deal with on a daily basis.

The Specter had no mind for such things. She preferred much simpler tasks that had beginnings and ends. That's why she much preferred the hunt.

"We both know that Thash is capable of a great many despicable things. And I suspect that she is already making her move. To be perfectly honest with you, I'm afraid that once her back is up against a wall she'll have no choice but to contact the other." The Queen explained as she released a tortured sigh that could only categorized as defeated.

"Well, that changes everything doesn't it?" The Specter asked as she pulled her long black cloak even tighter around her form.

"Yes, yes it certainly does." The Queen answered as she allowed her mind to conceive of a possible union in the jungle.

Things were slowly progressing towards a war that couldn't be stopped. There was only thing left to do and one card left to play. She had to find a way to bring Elila and Pedryn together. With Kellis out of the picture the heron was the only one left who could stop the bloodshed that Thash had started so very long ago.

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"But I suspect that you didn't come all this way to discuss tribal relations with me." The Queen commented as she managed to hobble past the Specter.

She clutched the scepter with a steely fist as she maneuvered herself towards the pews where only the commoners were to sit. The Specter was ready to vehemently protest, especially since the Queen's own thrown was not more then a few feet away. But the Queen's exhaustion was visibly palpable and the Specter had no such desire to upset her.

"No, my lady. I have word of the predator." The Specter said hoping that her voice didn't sound as ominous as she suspected. Truly, she didn't want to worry her majesty but the hunt was not going well. And if something didn't change soon she was certain that they would not be able to keep their secret for much longer.

"Tell me then." The Queen prodded knowing her servant well enough to pick up on the sign that clearly, things were not going as expected.

"We have found the remains of a facility near the Precipice Fall. I had a team secure the area." The Specter began knowing that this information would surely worry her queen.

"And?" The Queen answered finding it positively infuriating every time her subordinates attempted to coddle her or shield her from the truth. She had been created solely to rule the kingdom. It was her business to know the unpleasantness of day-to-day life.

"It would appear that we have found something." The Specter added as she walked forward to kneel before her mistress. This news would not be easy to take. But hopefully, the queen's wisdom would guide them. Because without it, the Specter firmly believed that the safety of the entire kingdom would vanish.

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"How can you just sit there??? We have to do something." Neisha stammered as her spouse stiffly refused to move away from the large desk she was currently occupying.

"I'm not just sitting here. And in case you haven't noticed, I now have a tribe to care for." Melaryn answered as she shuffled expense reports and medical files from one side of her desk to the other.

It wasn't really her desk. The Lodge had provided it and this entire office for the personal use of Kellis. But since the warrior was currently residing inside of a penal facility, Melaryn felt quite certain that she had every right to take the space over for herself.

"I know you have a lot to do. And I'm not belittling that. This is hard for you. But Thash will be here by nightfall. She's the Alpha. Let her handle this.

Kellis is your best friend. She's your protege. And right now she needs you." Neisha pleaded as she sufficiently calmed down to appeal to her spouses more rational train of thought.

"What do you want me to do? Go to the jail and hold her hand? What good would that do? She's gotten herself into this mess. Let her find her own way out. I'm through rescuing her." Melaryn snapped as she remembered all the many times that Kellis had managed to get herself out of one mess or another.

She had helped the young jungle cat far too much. Kellis had grown cocky and careless, nearly convinced that she was invincible and irreplaceable. But neither was true in the Fasara Village. And Melaryn knew first hand just how easy it was to have a prized position stolen right from under you.

"I know that Kellis has made some mistakes." Neisha began trying desperately to plead the young warrior's case.

"SOME MISTAKES???" Melaryn screamed in a rather uncharacteristic fit of anger.

"She's accused of murder. I think that's a definite step above simple mistake." Melaryn continued as she rounded the desk to put more distance between her body and the form of her mate.

"You can't actually believe that? You can't believe that she did this? Not to Narlene..." Neisha continued as she stormed across the room to confront her spouse more physically.

"No of course not." Melaryn admitted as she finally turned to face her wife.

Carefully, she took her wife's softer hands in her own. She looked gently into her golden eyes and silently pleaded with Neisha to drop this. But she knew that her spouse wouldn't. Neisha was loyal to a fault. She would stand beside Kellis, even if no one else would.

"I've spoken to Thash. You know that she will arrive soon?" Melaryn asked gently hoping to stave off another sparking of her wife's temper.

"Yes, of course. What did she say? What does she want us to do?" Neisha answered wondering at the plan of action the Alpha devised to rescue her favored warrior.

"Nothing..." Melaryn admitted as she pulled her wife just a bit closer. It was as if she was hoping that the heat of her body could somehow melt away the ice that was sure to form upon her wife's tender heart.

"Nothing? I don't understand. She had to have said something?" Neisha answered knowing that surely Thash would have clued Melaryn in on her intentions and actions.

"Darling, that's just it. Thash wants us to do nothing. In fact, she gave very strict instructions on the matter. She doesn't want any of the warriors to go within a cool mile of the lock-up facility." Melaryn explained as she wondered if her wife would finally understand what this would ultimately mean for Kellis.

"Okay. I guess that makes sense. It's a public relations thing, right? We are talking about a murder. And we haven't exactly been popular in the kingdom since our last war with the Midali. But what about counsel? Surely, Thash is acquiring representation for Kellis?" Neisha asked certain that at least they could be instrumental in this area of the warrior's defense.

But Melaryn didn't answer. She only shook her head and averted her gaze. Clearly, on some level the answer embarrassed her and she didn't want her wife to rub salt in this forming wound.

"No darling, I'm afraid that the Alpha intends to leave Kellis very much on her own. And she intends to severe all connection between her and the rest of the tribe." Melaryn answered knowing that her wife was sure to rally to Kellis' defense.

"No! That's not fair. This is a mistake. Surely, Thash can see that?" Neisha screamed not entirely convinced that her wife had done everything in her power to plead the golden warrior's case.

"Actually, Neisha I think that she believes Kellis is somehow involved. Everyone saw Kellis and Narlene leave the banquet together. Everyone. Even you can't contest that. You have to understand that even if Kellis wasn't the one who murdered Narlene, somehow, she played a part.

And with something like that hanging overhead it would be improper for her to continue on as premier warrior. She can't lead the tribe when everyone knows that she's ultimately responsible for the death of one of our own. And now, Thash can't even consider leaving her throne. " Melaryn explained knowing that her wife was going to take the news rather poorly.

Even to her, they sounded harsh and unfeeling. But she hadn't protested when Thash had first spoken them to her. She hadn't fought for Kellis because in a way, she believed that Thash was right. Even if Kellis' turned out to be absolved of all charges, even this hint of criminal intent would follow her for all eternity. In the span of a short day and long night Kellis' entire career appeared to have ended on a tortured, violent and ultimately succinct note.

The tribe needed a leader, not a criminal. And as a warrior Melaryn knew that it was her duty to only think in the best interest of the entire Fasara community. Even if it did conflict with the interest of her best friend.

"Melaryn, just tell me exactly what is going on." Neisha stammered as she crossed her arms firmly across her chest.

Her platinum locks were tucked neatly behind her ears and her body was stylishly dressed in all the tribal colors. Even when her wife was shooting silent daggers at her Melaryn was always taken aback by her beauty. Neisha was truly a sight to behold, even when suffering the pangs of infuriating anger.

"There's talk of formal shunning." Melaryn stated, knowing that that traditional and somewhat barbaric custom hadn't been employed since Thash usurped the last tribal Alpha.

There was a moment of silence that seemed to fill the air with anger and poison. Neisha was obviously annoyed and angry. The woman could be violently protective of people at times, especially when she believed that they needed her help. But then she walked over to her warrior wife and stared Melaryn directly into her eyes. Neisha wanted her spouse to know that she meant every single word she was about to say, without hesitation or qualm.

"So you'll take her place then. How convenient for you." Neisha snapped before she stormed away.

She didn't stop for one moment to listen to her wife's protests. And she certainly didn't heed Melaryn's warnings when her spouse demanded that she stay away from Kellis. She had a friend to help.

Kellis was about to lose her career, her social position, her friends, and her very home. And Neisha wasn't about to just sit by and do nothing. She would find out who killed Narlene, even if it meant disobeying her very stubborn wife.

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CONTINUED...

PREDATORS
by Chimera Bloom

Part 28

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"I don't even know what to say." Elila admitted as she fumbled with the silver communicator that Carielle had so dutifully provided.

The shark didn't answer. She resisted the urge to collapse into the near by over stuffed chair and instead chose to the quiet sanctuary of a darkened corner. She could see Elila quite well from this distance.

Even though the room was dark and filled with the crawling of humid shadows, the heron seemed quite comfortable on the bed. Her posture was relaxed as she stretched across the bed sheet. Even her emerald green eyes seemed somehow softer and more patient then before. The anxiety that normally cut Elila so close to the surface wasn't present now. She was peaceful.

But for some reason, Carielle found the effect to be quite chilling. She wanted the heron to be disturbed and anxious. She needed Elila to not only respond to their tempestuous environment but to her threat as well.

The crashing of thunder and the flashing of lightning didn't bother Elila in the least. And the shark had to remind herself again that this violent storm system was native to the young heron. In the Wetlands, they had rain. They had an entire monsoon season.

But nothing she had ever seen or lived through had come close to preparing Carielle for the storms of the swamp. She suspected that the wind was the most chilling aspect of all. When it crashed into the side of their tiny stilted hotel it sounded like the growl of vengeful hell beast.

Toss in Narlene's untimely death and the rogue predator that seemed to constantly be in search of new innocent prey and Carielle was afraid that her body was boiling in a hot nervous energy. She after all, was a warrior. After Pedryn, she was next in line to lead the tribe. She shouldn't be quite so affected by all this, but she was. And despite her royal mandate Carielle found herself wishing over and over that she could somehow find some way to escape this cumbersome burden.

And yet guilt, something that had never before even served the slightest bit of purpose, was now the only emotion serving to fuel her actions. She had to stop this predator. She had to keep Elila safe. She had to serve the queen. Perhaps maybe, when it was all said and done and her tasks had proven successful...perhaps then she could once again find the sleep of a peaceful dream.

Because not once since that night had her heart stopped screaming. She had done a horrible thing. And now, she would do anything in her power to tip the scales of honor in her favor.

Perhaps she was asking too much of Elila. She should call Pedryn. It was her familial and tribal duty. But she couldn't bring herself to dial the numbers and speak the words. She was under the strictest of orders to reveal nothing of her mandate or her purpose.

And Pedryn had a way of seeing through her. Pedryn would know without her ever having to say a word. It would be there in her tone and articulation. She would sound nervous, rushed, and perhaps even afraid.

She couldn't afford Pedryn to hear any of those things. Her cousin had a way of rescuing her. And right now, Carielle knew that this was a battle she would have to fight all on her own.

Rolling onto her back, Elila held the communicator close to her heart. She seemed undecided and uncertain of what to do and say. And though Carielle wanted to help her, she had no answers of her own to give.

Instead, the shark only leaned back against the surface of the wall letting the structure support her weight and form. She searched the shadowy room with its darkened colors and modest but comfortable furnishing for some sort of help or guidance. As far as Carielle had seen, everything in the swamp was dark and gloomy.

From the weather to the decor the swamp was one large shade of black. She wanted for the neon lights and the flashing boldness of Black Moon. But Elila had assured her that those fanciful colorings were there only to trap and lure the tourists. The native swamp folk and the isles surrounding Black Moon were darker and muted, like Glider's Hollow.

Absurdly, Carielle suddenly realized that she had never been in a rented room quite so small. Given her tribal position and familial relations the young shark changeling was used to only the finest in life. But Elila had promised her that this was the only establishment on the entire isle that they would find both safe and comfortable. Knowing nothing about their current area the shark would have to trust the heron's judgment.

And that in itself was a difficult task for Carielle. She wasn't used to depending on anyone outside of her tribe. She was a traditionalist after all. The Midali were not to mingle with other tribes.

But Elila had managed to in some ways be seen as less of stranger but not quite yet a friend. Carielle didn't know what the young heron would eventually be to them. She was supposed to be their enemy. She was the offspring of their most vilified tribal opponent.

And yet, Carielle didn't for a moment place Thash's mantle of hate and destruction on the shoulders of her fragile daughter. Elila was soft, tender, but strangely strong in all the emotional ways that Carielle envied. Perhaps it was easy not to hate Elila because of her long dark heron mane and bright green swamp eyes. There wasn't a bone in her body that bore the reflection of her jungle cat heritage.

"I'll have Zeranna contact her. It was wrong of me to ask you." Carielle whispered as she suddenly came forward forgetting her greater speed and startling the heron.

But the strange moment of alarm lasted only a moment before Elila adapted and put distance between them. She held to the communicator tightly and gently shook her head. Her dress fell carelessly around her shoulders and Carielle found herself dutifully looking away to avoid catching an eyeful of ivory flesh that was certainly not meant for her gray blue gaze.

"No... I'll do it. I need to know. I just...I was just trying to figure out what to say." Elila muttered as she rested once more against the mattress.

The shark stood silent for a moment as she considered the options before them. And by the second they grew fewer in number. It did make more sense for Elila to speak with Pedryn directly; after all she did have the most innate knowledge of Kellis and the rest of the tribe.

"I don't know quite how to say this. But I imagine that this is all so...hard for you." Carielle began as the words slowly died in her throat.

Words couldn't begin to articulate the pain and humiliation that Elila must have suffered. And the shark wasn't about to belittle her torment by trying to explain a horror that was certainly beyond all rational concept. And now, much to her own embarrassment Carielle found her eyes tearing up as if she were going to suffer yet another breakdown of all reason and semblance.

And she wasn't going to do that, not again, and certainly not in front of Elila. She needed time to collect herself. Having to spend so much time with the heron was forcing every single ounce of her guilt to the surface of her heart and the young shark was finding herself quite ill-equipped to deal with the constant and never ending ache of suffering.

"Carielle?" Elila called stopping the shark that froze in place but refused to meet her gaze.

"It will be alright. It's not Pedryn that I'm worried about speaking to. It's Kellis. I'm not quite certain that I'm ready to hear the gory details of the mess she seems to have landed in. But I'll call." Elila explained as she turned the communicator over in her hand.

"Thank you." Carielle answered succinctly as she finally faced the heron.

Even though she was a warrior, at the moment she looked little more then a child. Her arms were fiercely crossed against her chest as if to protect her own heart from breaking. Her gaze was averted and stormy. And her normal warrior's garb of bright Midali colors had been exchanged for a lighter blue cotton outfit of loose fitting pants and a tank top.

Carielle looked altogether small and frightened. And for the moment, Elila found that she felt for Carielle. In an absurd way the heron suddenly felt like protecting her, like a mother would a cowardly child.

"I imagine that this is hard for you as well." Elila stated as she silently begged the shark to show her some spark of confidence and strength.

They had a long road ahead of them. Finding the predator and staying one step ahead of Thash was certain to be no easy task. And the heron needed to know that Carielle could handle it, all of it.She needed to know that Carielle could handle being around her and all the emotions and truths that it may drudge up to the surface. Because as certain as the waters of the swamp were deep and dark, Elila knew that their lives were in danger. And the heron needed to feel safe, if only in Carielle's speed and strength as a warrior.

"I'll wait outside." Carielle mumbled as she rushed from the room trying desperately to put distance between herself and the heron that served as a reminder of the one terrible disgusting thing that she had done.

She had to get away, if only for a moment. She had to find a way to breathe. But here in the swamp's humid dense air her lungs were heavy and dry. And as she waited for Elila to finish Carielle began to wonder if she would ever again know the calming peace of a long deep breath breath.

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She grappled for the seat, but still Pedryn suspected that it wouldn't hold her. She hadn't expected the call, though of course she'd dreamt of it. Ever since Elila had left she wondered if her young companion was fairing well. She knew of Narlene's death. And she was more then a bit suspicious of Carielle's disappearance.

But still, she hadn't truly dared to hope for verbal contact. She had rightly assumed that if Elila had anything of importance to say it would be done through Zeranna. She had never imagined anything quite so intimate and personal.

And yet, there she was holed away in her large lavish rooms at the Fluid making final preparations to relocate the tribe when her communicator gave a familiar ring. She had been expecting to hear from her alpha or some other tribe official who was anxiously awaiting their return from the Gallion Village. For a moment, she had even dared to hope that Carielle had finally decided to break her silence and return one of the numerous messages she had left since her strange disappearance.

Oh Pedryn knew what the royal attache had said. Carielle had been whisked away on the official business of the kingdom. But Pedryn had the suspicion that something far more sinister was afoot. Call it shark intuition or simply the imagination of an over protective cousin but Pedryn wasn't about to simply stand idly by.

She knew that if she could take a leave of absence for a few short days she could locate her wayward kinsmen. Carielle was an accomplished hunter but she was no match for Pedryn's tracking abilities. But Pedryn knew that such a thing would never be allowed so she dare not even ask.

Her alpha rarely commanded these days. Most of the day to day tribal activities were left to her. And it wasn't because her alpha had grown old or feeble. It was simply a matter of prudence. She wanted to make sure that when the time came the tribe would be secure in Pedryn's capable hands. That's all she ever cared about...the security of the tribe.

Sometimes Pedryn didn't even feel like a daughter. She was like a biological product designed only to serve the needs of the Midali. And usually, she bore her burden with pride or at least the acceptable appearance of it. But that was before Carielle disappeared. And that was long before Elila...

But when she rolled over to gingerly finger the on-switch of her golden communicator she had been ill-prepared to hear the soft tones of a native swamp accent. Silently, her hand stretched out to steady her body against her desk before she fell completely off her chair. The heron was a continual source of unsettlement and distress for her. So why in the world did she savor every single word that Elila ever spoke?

"Pedryn?" Elila's soft voice asked again as she began to wonder if she had dialed the wrong number.

"I'm here." The shark finally managed to answer as she realized that at some point in time it would be necessary to quell the rising of her pulse and the nausea in her stomach.

"Is this a bad time? You sound...distracted." Elila asked as her voice indicated her politeness to a positive fault.

"No...I was just..." Pedryn began as she futilely flipped through the papers upon her desk that now appeared to mean absolutely nothing to her.

"Did you need something?" The shark finally asked determined to not let the heron completely unnerve her with the mere use of words.

"Actually yes. I was wondering about Kellis. Have you heard anything?" Elila asked wishing that visual communication was possible here in the swamp.

But such a thing was useless to even attempt. In the modern areas of the kingdom that were filled with luxury and technology hybrids and changelings had the option to use visual as well as auditory communicators. Each small compact device usually contained a small retractable view screen that could be used for more direct and sometimes intimate conversations. And as Elila ran her hands over the silver communicator that Carielle had left her she noticed that this device contained all the bells and whistles that technology had to offer.

Here in the swamp though, such a thing was useless. The swamp gas and constant electric thunderstorms blocked most communicator signals. She was impressed that Pedryn's voice sounded as clear as it did. Especially since even now, the shark was more then a half world away.

"Beyond her arrest I haven't heard anything." Pedryn tensed allowing her voice to sound a bit angrier then she had intended.

She knew what Kellis has the potential to become. She knew what Kellis meant to the Fasara. And more then that, she knew what the golden warrior could one day be to Elila. And though she knew her feelings were irrational and unwanted she couldn't help but tense at the very thought that someday soon the heron would spend her nights in the bed of another.

"Do you know if they're still holding her or if she's been released to the Fasara authorities? And Thash? Is there word of her?" Elila prodded trying her very best to ignore Pedryn's earlier surliness. Now wasn't the time to allow simple things like attitude to come between them.

Most audibly, the shark sighed. She hated the note of interest and concern that had entered Elila's voice. The heron's abject caring disgusted her.

"You know if you're so interested why don't you just contact your alpha? I'm sure Thash would be anxious to learn of your location." Pedryn snapped instantly regretting her harshness.

There was only silence that followed her outburst. And the shark could practically here the heron chewing fiercely on her bottom lip. This wasn't how she wanted to treat Elila. This wasn't what she really wanted to say.

"I'm sorry Pedryn. I didn't mean to disturb you. I just... I only needed..." Elila whimpered clearly at a complete loss to appropriately explain her emotions.

Once again, the shark sighed trying valiantly to distance herself from the volatile emotions of the situation at hand. She couldn't think of Kellis and her relationship to Elila. She could only focus on the moment. And right now, she needed to know why it was exactly that the heron felt compelled to reach out to her.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm just...busy with making arrangements for the tribe. I didn't mean to snap. I suppose I could check on the situation regarding Kellis. But why? If you care so much I just don't understand why you don't go directly to the source." Pedryn relented trying desperately to keep all the harsh edges from penetrating her voice.

"It's not that Pedryn. At least, it's not the way that you think." Elila began as she tried to digest the anger that the shark seemed to be hurling in her direction.

"I was here with Narlene when she died. I spoke to her. She died right in front of me..." Elila explained as she recalled one of the most horrifying memories she now was forced to revisit on a constant basis.

"What?" Pedryn gasped suddenly shocked by the information.

She knew that Narlene had supposedly died somewhere in the swamp. But she had had no idea that there had been any contact between Elila and Kellis' victim. Something about this situation was beginning to feel inherently wrong.

"Pedryn, I don't know what's going on. I need details. I don't know what happened between Kellis and Narlene. I did see them leave the banquet together. And Kellis was drunk...

But I don't know what to think. And the weird thing is that... Oh, never mind it's silly." Elila stopped as she quickly realized that not only was she making no sense to herself but surely the shark must be confused as well.

"No, what is it Elila?" Pedryn prodded as she braced herself against the wood of her desk. Something about this was all wrong. And the shark was beginning to think that after being attacked by a cobra Elila has somehow managed to find herself right back in the thick of things.

"It sounds weird and paranoid but I can't help but think that Narlene's death has something to do with me. The authorities here...well they found something. I don't know what it is yet. But I think it has something to do with me. Ever since they went through the crime scene everyone has been keeping a rather close eye on me." Elila explained as she inwardly promised herself to have an honest conversation with Carielle the very next time she ran into the shark.

Still though the shark said nothing. She needed time to think. And Elila was right, they both needed more information.

Though there was one thing that Pedryn was certain of. She truly regretted her earlier harshness. It was clear that Elila hadn't called out of attraction or hero-worship for her tribe's golden warrior. She called out of concern for her own safety. She had called Pedryn. And the shark instantly recognized that that one action spoke of trust and need.

"I understand. I'll talk to some people and see what I can find out. Call me back tomorrow?" Pedryn asked hoping that the heron would agree to the contact.

She could easily ask Elila where she was staying. She could even have the communication traced. But she would do none of those things. Pedryn knew that eventually Thash would show up looking for her daughter. And ignorance was always a suitable and quite formidable defense.

"All right." Elila easily agreed allowing her nerves and anxiousness to seep into tone.

"Oh Elila? If you find anything that links you directly to Narlene call me back, immediately." Pedryn directed making no qualms about the fact that she was giving the heron a clear and direct order.

"Of course. Thanks Pedryn... I... I really appreciate it." Elila muttered before she terminated the communique with a flick of the off-switch.

And half a world away the shark did the very same thing. But Pedryn knew that that one call had changed everything. Again, it would seem that the heron needed her help. And again Pedryn knew that she would do anything and everything in her power to keep Elila safe. She owed the heron that much. In a way, she owed the heron everything...

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There's something utterly terrifying about an electric filled sky. It's loud and angry and makes everyone remember that Mother Nature still rules over her planet with an iron fist. Civilizations can build structure and comfort. Humanity reached out with science and tried to conquer a land that was not their own. And for that, they paid the final price.

But tonight, with the wind roaring and the rain pounding Elila couldn't help but feel her own baser instincts begin to surface. Her blood seemed to rise up and sing the very second that her two long legs set foot on the familiar boggy marsh of her native tribe.

As a heron, she could feel the swamp settling into her skin. She breathed with the wind, cried with the rain, and allowed the bold lightning to guide her way. She could never fear the raging storm of her native swamp. To her, it was a merely an echo of nativity, bold and brilliant.

She only wished that her return to the swamp had been under more agreeable circumstances. A matter she would rather not be involved in had encompassed her conversation with Pedryn. Images of Narlene's rather graphic death still danced through her mind. And the very idea that Kellis had something to do with her untimely demise left Elila cold, almost like her thoughts themselves would take on the icy shards of an Antarctic breeze.

But it wasn't just Narlene and Kellis that had her mind preoccupied. It was the purpose of her journey in the first place that had her heart doing somersaults. She was here for another dark reason and it had nothing to do with Narlene's murder or the mysterious deaths mounting throughout the Outlands. Her building anxiety had everything to do with the Fasara and the Midali, and the night she was taken out onto the water.

The heron couldn't quite let go of the idea that binding herself to Carielle's investigation would in no way further her own agenda. She had already tried to get as much information from the shark as she could. And Elila knew that pressing Carielle any further would be a futile activity.

But she couldn't quite shake off the nagging suspicion that Narlene's death had somehow connected her to this rather unpleasant business of death and destruction. Elila didn't know why. Maybe it was the strange somber look that plagued Carielle every time they spoke. Or maybe it was in the simple way that nothing in her life ever seemed to simply happen. Her past was never forgotten. Her future never seemed obscure. And the now was only a trapping for ghosts and the future-scape of demons.

Finding Narlene in the swamp was a gesture of fate that Elila would be foolish to ignore. The heron wasn't quite sure what event was triggering such recognition within her. Maybe it was Narlene's dying words. Or perhaps it was the gruesome manner with which the young kitten was killed.

Whatever it was something had struck a deep resonating chord with the heron. It was almost like she was outside herself looking in. It was as if she had known all along that Narlene would die. It was a horrid thought and one she didn't care to dwell on. But to Elila it was as if the faces had changed but the play remained the same.

What bothered Elila the most about the entire incident was the very fact that she wasn't more upset. She wanted to cry or be riddled with fear. She wanted to feel guilty for never having really connected to Narlene. She wanted to be overwhelmed by the entire experience.

Instead, she couldn't seem to feel much of anything. In fact, there was only one thought and one feeling circling her mind and Elila couldn't even begin to understand it herself. It was as if she had expected this all along. It was as if somewhere in any other place and in another time she knew Carielle and Pedryn. It was as if she knew them both like family or the most intimate of friends.

And she couldn't help but feel that she had somehow lived through Narlene's death before. It was almost like she had been waiting for this moment all along. Elila was about to try and shake herself from these ghastly thoughts when a knock at her door interrupted her reverie.

"May I come in?" Carielle asked as she slowly wandered back into the heron's room.

Truthfully, the shark knew she should have returned some time ago. Even from her own room separated by walls and sturdy concrete she had heard the termination of the heron's call to Pedryn. But the shark hybrid had been rather busy since leaving Elila's side. There had been more news of the predator and Carielle had been forced to absorb every grisly detail.

At this very moment, Ice was still talking to the Queen gathering as much information as she could. But Carielle, after forcing Zeranna from their shared room, poured over the data the Queen had previously handed them. There were pictures, tapes, interviews...everything any good hunter would need to locate their prey.

But unfortunately for Carielle there was something of primary importance missing. There was something that for whatever reason the Queen had overlooked. And now, it was up to the shark to correct this gross oversight.

In the evidence, wrapped around every item like a wreaking stench, was the salty aroma of the swamp. With each crime and each victim looked at individually the shark could see how this small factoid had been missed. But when everything was laid out right before her eyes there was no way to miss the rather obvious detail that this strange and deadly predator had strong ties to Black Moon Swamp.

Regrettably, Carielle and Ice did not. The shark knew that their investigation would take them to the heart of the swamp. And obviously, they would need help getting there.

The Queen trusted Elila. After all, she was the daughter of Thash. She was conceived of only the most royal of jungle cat blood. She was considered honorable, even if her ties to Black Moon were less then seemly. They would need her help. And at this point, Carielle could only hope that she would give it willingly.

"Where's Zeranna and your partner?" Elila asked obviously indicating the absence of Ice from the shark's side.

Carielle studied the heron intently. She knew that Elila wasn't as innocuous as she liked to pretend. She had only known the heron a short time but she had come to admire the young one's grit and steely determination. It wasn't everyday that a mere heron was able to stand up to the likes of her cousin. Pedryn could scare the daylights out of the fiercest warrior any day of the week. But Elila seemed to take their interaction with a grace and courtesy that spoke volumes of her courageous will and well-developed heart.

"Ice is in disposed of for the moment. I need to speak with you... privately." The shark idled as she practically hugged the darkest corner of the modest bedroom.

The heron was lounging on the soft silken bed like entertaining a Midali warrior in the dark of night with only a mattress between them was the most natural thing in all the world. In fact, Carielle was beginning to wonder if Elila felt anything at all. The shark was suffering nerves and bouts of anxiety, not to mention the telltale guilt that stained her features each and every time she saw the heron.

If the heron was at all disturbed she gave no sign of it. And Carielle would have known. She would have heard the increase in heart rate or the quickening of a desperate breath. But instead, Elila only sighed like she was bored with the tiring hour and the gloom around them.

"Oh... What did you want to talk about?" Elila asked trying her best to give the careless attitude she was struggling to enact.

She didn't want the shark to see just how much she was interested in learning of Narlene's death. Elila didn't know why exactly but she had sinking feeling that her destiny was being commanded from a distance. Aside from the obvious brutality of the murder there was something haunting Elila. There was something pivotal circling her mind; she just couldn't seem to identify the ghost.

"Bloodless... I need to know about it. I need to know what you know." Carielle whispered hoping that the heron would offer the information up on a silver platter. She needed Elila's help. If they were going to stop what was coming in the darkness they were going to have to work together. And Carielle could only hope that somehow she could learn to forgive herself for everything that had come before.

"All right...but first I want to know about Narlene. What do you know?" Elila asked clearly unwilling to hedge around the issue at hand.

"There's so much I'm not supposed to say. There's a lot I don't even know." Carielle began clearly unsure of how to start the conversation that the heron obviously wanted to have.

"I wasn't supposed to get into this with civilians. Pedryn doesn't even know where I am." Carielle relented as she realized that even with special permission from the Queen bringing the heron into this particular loop of information would certainly prove tenuous.

"Does Narlene's death have something to do with me?" Elila asked deciding to simply voice her suspicion.

Carielle had been acting so strangely ever since she returned from the crime scene. All the heron knew was that there was a place here where Narlene had apparently been held before her death. Elila knew none of the details. But she did know that Carielle had seen something...something that apparently concerned the heron.

"I don't know. I really don't. But I saw a lot of coincidences that just aren't adding up." Carielle added as she finally began the journey from her dark corner to the center of the room.

It was time for her to face Elila. It was time for her to be truthful. And that wasn't going to be easy. Because no matter what else may be still be going on Elila was always going to be Thash's daughter. She was always going to be the enemy. And Carielle couldn't help but think that she was the last person in the world who should be having this conversation with the heron.

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